* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:03] COREY HAVE, OKAY. HELLO. IT IS 1 33 ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER THE 19TH, 2023. I'M MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, AND I'M CALLING THE MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO WATER, [PRESENTATIONS] AND THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO JABO. OH MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND IF YOU ALL CAN TELL I'VE LOST MY VOICE. SO I BROUGHT A PROXY AND, AND VICE MAYOR PRO TEM. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. I TRIED A MEDICINE BOMB, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WORKS IN 10 MINUTES. BUT ANYWAY, I'M GONNA GET STARTED. ARE YOU, ARE YOU GONNA READ THIS OR YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? OH, THAT'S WHAT YOU READ. ALRIGHT. OKAY. ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR MR. DONALD GLENN. IS HE HERE? IF HE CAN COME UP, COME ON UP. MR. GLENN . MAYOR SANDRA ES IS THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SANDRA MASSEY HINES HERE AS WELL. SHE SAID WHAT? OH GOODNESS. YES, SHE IS. OKAY, WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH, UH, THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU MR. GLENN AND MAYOR SANDRA HINES FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE LEGENDARY TEXAS PRINCE OF ZYDECO AND BLUES JABO HAS ENJOYED A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED MUSIC CAREER, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON AND THROUGHOUT THE US BUT GLOBALLY AS WELL. AND WHEREAS THE ICONIC MULTI-TALENTED MUSICIAN PHILANTHROPIST HAS MENTORED MANY MUSICIANS ON THEIR WAY TO THE TOP. DONALD GLENN, WHOSE STAGE NAME IS JABO, WAS BORN IN 1954 IN HUMBLE BORDERS VIEW OFF OF 1960 IN NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, TO PARENTS EARL AND WANDA GLENN JABO HAS FIVE SIBLINGS, AND THEY ALL ATTENDED FIRST MORNINGSTAR BAPTIST CHURCH ON CRANE AND MAJESTIC IN THE CASHMERE GARDEN AREA. AND WHEREAS FROM THERE, JAO STARTED OUT PLAYING DRUMS IN CHURCH. AND THEN HIS CAREER GREW TO WHERE HE BEGAN PERFORMING IN BLUES AND ZYDECO BANDS IN THE SUNNY SIGN AREA AT ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, ALONG WITH BUCK WEEK ZYDECO BAND. AND LATER MOVED ON TO BEING AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST, DISPLAYING HIS TALENT AT A WELL-KNOWN VENUE CALLED VADAS LOUNGE AT BRISCOE AND CULLEN BOULEVARD. HE THEN MOVED TO EMANCIPATION PARK AND OPENED UP FOR SAM LIGHTNING HAWKINS. AND WHEREAS JABO WAS THE FIRST TEXAN TO PERFORM ZYDECO IN TEXAS IN 1979 AND MADE HIS FIRST SINGLE LITTLE BIT AND SIGNED ONTO A FIVE YEAR RECORD DEAL WITH A MAJOR RECORD LABEL CALLED MAISON DE SOUL. JABOS PERFORMANCE WAS HEADLINED IN SOUL BAG MAGAZINE IN PARIS, FRANCE. ON MORE THAN THREE OCCASIONS, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, AS WELL AS SEVERAL APPEARANCES IN THE INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL IN VANCOUVER, CANADA. HE BROUGHT HIS OWN UNIQUE RHYTHMIC SENSE AND STYLE TO PLAYING THE ACCORDION THAT COMBINES ELEMENTS OF JABO DEEMS ZYDECO BLUES, WHICH REPRESENTS A COMBINATION OF ZYDECO AND BLUES. HIS POWERFUL VOICE PROVIDED HIS STRENGTHS AS VOCALISTS BAND LEADER AND SHOWMAN, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO HIS POPULARITY AS WELL. AND WHEREAS JABO HAS PERFORMED IN VENUES OF ALL SIZES FROM CLUBS TO AUDITORIUMS TO THE FAME, NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, WHERE HE ACQUIRED HIS ROYAL STAGE NAME JABO, TEXAS PRINCE, FOLLOWING AN APPEARANCE EARLY ON IN HIS CAREER. WHEREAS JABO HAS ALSO COLLABORATED PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR SENIORS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH THE HONORARY MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, SANDRA MASSEY HINES. WHEREAS JABO, THE TEXAS PRINCE OF ZYDECO AND BLUES WAS THE ONLY HOUSTON LEGEND TAPPED TO PERFORM FOR THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON, HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE ALL NEW SUNNYSIDE HEALTH AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, JANUARY 28TH, 2023. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HIS MUSICAL TALENT, JABO, THE LEGENDARY TEXAS PRINCE OF ZO AND BLUES IS MENTIONED IN 22 INTERNATIONAL WORLD BOOKS AND HAS EARNED THE ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION OF COUNTLESS FANS AND HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AS A MUSICIAN AND PERFORMER ARE INDEED DESERVING OF THE RECOGNITION. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS AND COMMENCES JABO, THE TEXAS PRINCE OF ZYDECO ON HIS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS [00:05:01] AS A MUSICIAN AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSTON ZYDECO COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AS DONALD GLEN DAY, UM, JABO, THE TEXAS PRINCE OF ZYDECO. . THANK YOU COUNCIL. YOU NOT GONE? YES, ALL I LET GIVE UNDER GOD BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG BLESSING TO ME AND WHAT GOD HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO FOR SIX TO NINE YEARS. I'VE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORLD, THIS IS MY HOMETOWN AND CITY, CITY HAS BEEN GREAT AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR ACCEPTING ME IN HERE TODAY. AND THE MAYOR, I THANK HIM SO VERY MUCH, MR. TURNER, WHO HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO ALL OF US HERE IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA. AND THANK MY, MY MAIN MAYOR, MAYOR SANDRA HINES , WHO I LOVE SO MUCH AND SO DEARLY, AND WE SHOULD ALSO SHARE THE SAME BIRTHDAY DATE. AND THANK ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT CAME WITH TODAY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MA WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU HONORING THIS MAN TODAY. HE HAD NO IDEA. HE'S BEEN SUCH A BLESSING TO HOUSTON, TO THIS COMMUNITY SERVING WITHOUT ASKING FOR ANYTHING, A TRUE PHILANTHROPIST. AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING HIM WITH HIS OWN DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZZ FOR A PROCLAMATION TO CARE SOURCE BAYOU HEALTH TO RECOGNIZE THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN. I KNOW I'M GOING TO OWE YOU LUNCH. I'M OWE YOU LUNCH. THANK YOU. NO, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FINE. I'M, I'M HAPPY TO STAND IN. UH, ARE THE MEMBERS OF TEXAS A'S MEMORIAL GARDEN HERE? YES, MR. , HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, THE PROCLAMATION READS TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN, WHEREAS THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1986 TO COMMEMORATE THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS LOST TO THE HIV AIDS PANDEMIC THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN LINEAR FOREST, ALONG THE CO COLUMBIA TAP RAIL TRAIL IN THIRD WARDS SOUTH MCGREGOR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHEREAS IN 19 86, 5 YEARS BEFORE THE NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE WAS ESTABLISHED IN SAN FRANCISCO, RESIDENTS OF THIRD WARDS SOUTH MCGREGOR NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERTOOK THE TRANSFORMATION OF A PLOT OF LAND ALONG THE ABANDONED COLUMBIA TAP RAILROAD INTO WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN. AND WHEREAS IN 1999, THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACQUIRED THIS FORMER RAILWAY CORRIDOR FROM UNION PACIFIC TO CREATE A HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, THEREBY INTERSECTING WITH THIS POIGNANT MEMORIAL SITE. AND WHEREAS IN 2004, THE GARDEN AND YARD SOCIETY DEDICATED THE GARDEN TO THE REMEMBRANCE OF FRIENDS LOST TO AIDS SOLIDIFYING ITS ROLE AS A PLACE OF HEARTFELT MEDITATION. AND WHEREAS IN 2015, THE EXTENSION OF THE COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL FURTHER INTEGRATED THE GARDEN INTO THE CITY'S LANDSCAPE CONNECTING THE BRAVES BAYOU GREENWAY TO DIXIE DRIVE. AND WHEREAS TODAY THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN STANDS AS THE UNITED STATES OLDEST AIDS MONUMENT, AND A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY SERVING AS A MATURE BILE SWELL AND POCKET FOREST WITHIN HOUSTON CITY LIMITS INVITING VISITORS TO REFLECT ON HISTORY AND NATURE'S BEAUTY WHILE TRAVERSING THE HISTORIC COLUMBIA TAP TRAIL. AND WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP WILL [00:10:01] HOST A REDEDICATION OF THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN AND OPEN A TIME CAPSULE WITH NOTES OF REMEMBRANCE FROM 1986. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN, ITS FOUNDER AND LONGTIME CARETAKER R MICHAEL LEE AND FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE MEMORY OF THOSE LOST TO AIDS AND FOR CREATING A SPACE OF REFLECTION, REMEMBRANCE, AND ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION AND REDEDICATION OF THE GARDEN, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF THE TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM DECEMBER THE FIRST 2023 AS TEXAS AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN DAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK, I THINK I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY. THIS HAS BEEN A 40 YEAR EFFORT TO THANK YOU FOR THE KLEENEX TO REMEMBER FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED OF AIDS. ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION ARE ALL DEAD, SO I FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF GUILT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND DO THIS EFFORT, BUT THAT WASN'T A MAJOR EMPHASIS ON REMEMBERING THEM. I DON'T DRINK, I DON'T SMOKE, I DON'T, BUT I GARDEN. AND SO THAT WAS MY OUTLET TO, UM, SOLVING MY INTERNAL STRUGGLES WITH TRYING TO CREATE A GARDEN. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING THAT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. I I DO HAVE SOME SAMPLES. CAN I SHOW YOU, THIS IS THE, A SAMPLE OF THE BRICK THAT WILL, UH, UH, EVENTUALLY ENCIRCLE A COLUMN THAT'S THERE. THIS IS THE MOSAICS THAT WILL GO ON THE SIGNAGE DONE BY MARCY DORSEY OUTLAW. AND THOSE ARE KIND OF RENDERINGS OF WHAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY LOOK LIKE WHEN IT FINALLY MATURES. THANK YOU AGAIN. VERY NICE. COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR PROAM, MARTHA CASTEX. TATUM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION FORWARD. AND, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK THAT THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE MEMORIAL. GARDEN AIDS WAS A TREMENDOUS EPIDEMIC, AND, UM, SO MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE EPIDEMIC AND THE, AND THE DISEASE WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT, BUT, UM, I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AS A BODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UM, EVEN WITH OUR HAUA FUNDS AND THE WORK THAT WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN, UM, LIVE, UM, EVEN WITH THE DISEASE BY, UM, PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NEEDED FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, UM, WHEN DIAGNOSED WITH, UM, AIDS. SO WE APPRECIATE THIS GARDEN. UM, MARSHA OUTLAW HAS DONE SOME TREMENDOUS ARTWORK ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. UM, SHE'S DONE SOME GREAT PROJECTS WITH OUR SPARK PARKS, UM, AND WE KNOW HER WORK WELL, AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST, UM, TO THIS EPIDEMIC. AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO, UM, VISIT AND REMEMBER ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO AIDS COUNCIL. SIR DAVID ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM MICHAEL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR THIS EFFORT. NOT ONLY WHAT, AS YOU SAY, WILL BECOME AND HAS YET TO BE REALIZED WITH THOSE SAMPLES. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S IMPORTANT. WHAT THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM JUST SAID IS CRITICAL, THAT YOUR LEGACY REMAINS, AND THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS FORTIFIED AND, UM, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE ENDURED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS ALONG THE COLUMBIA TRAP TAP. UM, DR. EVANS, CHAZ, I KNOW IN DISTRICT D, THIS IS A MAN WHO HAS FOUGHT MIGHTILY TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF SOMETHING HE BUILT OVER DECADES. AND MICHAEL, THAT IS NOT LOST ON US OR FORGOTTEN YOUR SINGULAR EFFORT FOR THOSE WHO WE HAVE LOST OUR FRIENDS, WE UNDERSTAND SURVIVOR'S GUILT, BUT YOU ARE A TREASURE AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT IS YET TO COME FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS. THANK YOU MICHAEL, FOR YOUR WORK IN, IN MAKING THIS, UM, A REALITY. UM, I HOPE THAT IT, THIS DOESN'T JUST, UM, JUST, UM, UM, ABOUT MEMORY TO THE PAST BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS AGE IS STILL HERE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE [00:15:01] THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, THAT I, I CAME TO BE AWARE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THE NUMBERS ARE ARISING AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND YOUNG PEOPLE. SO I HOPE, I HOPE THIS CAN ALSO BE A, A PLATFORM TO, UH, TO REACH OUT AND, AND EDUCATE AND, AND, AND, UM, AND, AND, AND PREVENT MORE DEATHS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA SAY IN CLOSING, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, THAT WORKING WITH MICHAEL LEE AND THE FRIENDS OF COLUMBIA TAP IT PETTED HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE. WE HAVE HAD SOME, SOME TRIALS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TRIUMPHED, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH US. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND BE A PART OF THIS. AND I CERTAINLY HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIVES. I HAVE TWO CLOSE COUSINS AND SOME VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WHO DIED OF AIDS. AND SO AS I WALK OR RIDE THROUGH THAT AREA, I WILL ALWAYS THINK OF THEM FONDLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S TAKE PICTURES, . OKAY. TIFFANY D. THOMAS FOR A PROCLAMATION TO BARBARA QUATRO FOR HER ONGOING EFFORTS AS THE A LEAF CHAMPION COUNCIL. I HAD TO GET BARBARA BEFORE YOU LEFT. THERE SHE GO. THERE SHE GO. UH, MAYOR POTEL, MAYOR TURNER AND COUNCIL OF, I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT I SUPPORTED AND ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE WHO IS NO STRANGER TO THE HORSESHOE. UM, IN MANY OF MY COMMENTS BEFORE MAYOR TURNER CONCLUDED HIS ADMINISTRATION, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW TOGETHER THEY'VE DONE A LOT OVER THESE LAST EIGHT YEARS. AND SO, UM, THE WAY I DESCRIBE HER AS A FIGHTER, I MEAN, Y'ALL THINK I'M BAD, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU MAKE HER MAD, AND THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENING IN, IN THE CITY. AND SO WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE TO FIGHT ON YOUR BEHALF, WE CALL ON BARBARA QUATRO. WHEN WE NEED SOMEONE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE VERY GOOD THINGS IN OUR CITY. WE CALL ON BARBARA QUATRO. WHEN WE NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE VERY WELL INVESTED AND OUR ANIMALS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, WE CALL ON BARBARA QUATRO. SO THIS IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER TODAY. SO WHEREAS BARBARA QUATRO HAS SERVED ON THE A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL SINCE 2004, AND AS ITS CHAIRMAN SINCE 2010, HER STEADFAST ADVOCACY FOR HER NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS HAS LED TO ENHANCEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN ALE AND IN DISTRICT F. AND WHEREAS MS. QUATRO HAS RECRUITED HUNDREDS OF YOUNG AND OLD VOLUNTEERS TO PLANT OVER 10,000 TREES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE COULD PAUSE AND CLAP FOR THAT 10,000 TREES. IN 20 YEARS, SHE HAS PERSONALLY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTS TO BEAUTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MS. QUATROS CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS IN 2019, BARBARA SERVED ON THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT TEAM, AND CONTRIBUTED HER, CONTRIBUTED HER INVALUABLE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE THE ENTIRE A LEAF WESTWOOD COMPLETE COMMUNITY AT BETTER PLACE. HER PRESENCE LED TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE REVITALIZATION OF THE LONG AWAITED, MUCH ANTICIPATED A LEAF NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHICH OPENED IN JANUARY, 2023. MS. QUATRO HOLDS THE ALEY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS AT THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER TODAY. AND WHEREAS MS. QUATRO CONTINUES TO, TO OFFER SUCCESS TO DISTRICT F EVENTS, INCLUDING THE 2023 BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY, WHERE SHE COORDINATED [00:20:01] DOZENS OF TEENAGE VOLUNTEERS TO STUFF OVER 500 BACKPACKS. SHE'S ALSO LED EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF MAYOR TURNER'S 50 50 PARKS PROGRAM, ENHANCING THE HARWIN PARK UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS BARBARA QUATRO FOR HER TIRELESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND THE HU AND THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY, THE CITY EXTENDS BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. MR. MAYOR. AND BEFORE I READ THIS LAST, UH, UH, LINE, UH, BARBARA, LET ME JOIN IN WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, UM, YOUR DETAIL, UM, TO, TO MATTERS, UM, UH, IN THE DISTRICT, IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND FOR JUST BEING A TIRELESS CHAMPION. YEAH. UM, BEFORE I CAME IN AS MAYOR AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING IN AS MAYOR, UM, YOU REMINDED ME OFTEN, OFTEN THAT, UH, A LEAF HAD BEEN WAITING ON THAT CENTER FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. AND, UH, I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT ALONG WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FOR WORKING TO GET IT DONE. THANK YOU. AND BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS, UH, WE HAVE A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, UH, BECAUSE YOU ALL WILL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS, NOTHING LESS. SO THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AS BARBARA QUADRO DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. BARBARA IS JOINED BY HER FAMILY. CAN WE HAVE FAMILY, FAMILY MEMBERS WITH BARBARA, PLEASE? WHERE PART FAMILY. COME ON. GOD. MY, MY DAUGHTER CAME DOWN WITH COVID. HERE YOU GO. OH, NO, GO GET TO THE MIC. GET TO THE MIC, DOUG. COME ON. I STARTED PLANTING TREES IN, IN A LEAF. UM, WAS AN ALTRUISTIC. IT WAS JUST, IT, IT WAS UGLY. WE HAD, WE HAD, UH, JUST ALL KINDS OF ESCALADES THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SO I STARTED PLANTING TREES, UH, JUST TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER. UM, THE FOCUS HAS CHANGED. I THINK WE NEED NOT THOUSANDS, BUT MILLIONS OF TREES IN HOUSTON. I MEAN, HOW MANY TREES DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO OFFSET THE HEAT OF THE KATY FREEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE? SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO, UH, GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL. THERE'S NO PLANET BEING, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING AND, AND TREES ARE SOMETHING THAT I CAN, UM, THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN ACCOMPLISH. UM, I DIDN'T PLAN 'EM BY MYSELF. I HAVE TO THANK THE, THE, THE KIDS OF, UH, A LEAF SCHOOLS. UM, ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN DOING THIS. I WORK 'EM LIKE RENO MULES, AND THEY, THEY, THEY KEEP COMING BACK . SO THEY, THEY JUST DO A GOOD JOB. UH, WE'RE GOING TO, AND I INVITE ALL YOU TO COME JANUARY THE SIXTH AND JANUARY THE 20TH, WE'RE PLANTING SOME MORE. SO COME ON OUT, HELP US, HELP US OUT, UH, DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCO. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT BARBARA CUATRO DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE A DAY OR, OR 500 DAYS, UM, IN HONOR OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO IN A LEAF. I'VE BEEN ON SOME OF THOSE TREE PLANNING ADVENTURES AND MAN, YOU KNOW, HOW TO PLANT A TREE AFTER A MORNING OR AFTERNOON WITH BARBARA QUATTRO . I THINK YOU'RE SINGLE HANDEDLY RAISING OUR NUMBERS TO OUR, TOWARDS OUR MAYOR, 4.6 MILLION TREES WE WANNA PLANT BY 2030. WE NEED 'EM. UM, YOU ARE SUCH AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT ONE PERSON CAN DO TO LIFT A COMMUNITY, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND I'M SO, ALSO SO GRATEFUL TO ALL YOU DO FOR THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMUNITY. MM-HMM . UH, ANOTHER BIG THING YOU'RE INVOLVED IN MM-HMM . SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ENJOY YOUR BIG DAY. THANK YOU. UH, JANUARY 20TH. WHEN WE PLANT THOSE TREES, IT'S ALSO GONNA BE A TREE GIVEAWAY. SO COME ON OUT, GET A TREE, OREGON, GO ON OUT. THANKS. COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO, TIM. AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, MAYOR. THANK YOU, BARBARA. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON, UH, GETTING YOUR OWN SPECIAL DAY. UH, SAL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN IS CORRECT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE. I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL OF THOSE EVENTS WITH YOU. YOU WILL LET US KNOW IF IT'S NOT DONE PROPERLY, HOW TO, HOW TO PUT IT IN THE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT. UM, BUT WE JUST WANT TO, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR ADVOCACY, UH, AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO SITS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. IF YOU WANT TO GET ANY SUPPORT AND A LEAVE, ONE PERSON YOU NEED TO GO VISIT WITH IS BARBARA QUATTRO. THAT'S, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU [00:25:01] FOR CONTINUING TO ENGAGE, UH, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR COMMUNITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MAYOR TURNER, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THOSE MIDNIGHT EMAILS WITH BARBARA. UH, YOU'RE GONNA MISS THOSE, UH, DETAILED EMAILS ON. AND THE NEXT THING YOU NEED TO DO, MR. MAYOR, IS THE FOLLOWING. SO WE, UH, LISTEN, UH, SHE'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST MY SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT. SHE, UM, SOMEONE I CONSIDER A FRIEND, UM, I CAN CALL HER AT ALMOST ANY TIME OF THE NIGHT. AND IF SHE'S NOT FOSTERING DOGS, UM, SHE'S DOING SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FELT THE LOVE THAT YOU GIVE TO EVERYONE. AND THEN ALSO, UM, AS SHE MENTIONED, SHE DOESN'T DO THIS ALONE. THANK YOU TO HER SON AND SON-IN-LAW FOR LOANING HER TO US, UM, ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE EFFORT I KNOW SHE'S SPENDING IN COMMUNITY. UH, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR SUPPORT OF HER EFFORTS, WHICH HAVE REALLY TRANSFORMED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU'ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. FOLD IT. PHOTO COUNCIL MEMBER TARSHA JACKSON FOR A PROCLAMATION TO IMPACTING HOUSTON. AMEN. FOR 27 YEARS OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M HONORED TO, UM, PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO CYNTHIA BAILEY AND IMPACTING HOUSTON, HER TEAM. IF YOU GUYS CAN MAKE YOUR WAY UP. I SEE WE GOT, UM, MY PREDECESSOR JERRY DAVIS WAS HIDING IN THE BACK. UM, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY DAVIS, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON UP. UM, THIS WHOLE TEAM HAS BEEN A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IN DISTRICT B, PARTICULARLY NORTHEAST, UM, CITY GAS NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MEET CYNTHIA BAILEY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND LEARNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE AMAZING WORK THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SERVICE AND MAKING SURE THAT, UM, AT RISK YOUTH HAVE WHAT THEY PARTICULARLY NEED. AND SO IT'S JUST BEEN A HONOR TO WORK WITH ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE. HOW YOU DOING, MR. HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M GOOD. AND SO I'M GO AHEAD AND READ THE, UM, PROCLAMATION WHY THEY HUG EACH OTHER, WHEREAS IMPACTING HOUSTON INCORPORATED IS A 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 19 6, 19 96 AS A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE UNDERSERVED NORTHEAST COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON, KNOWN AS CITY GAS. SINCE THEN, THEY HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, EXPOSURE TO CULTURE EVENTS, AND TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THEIR EFFORTS HAVE MOVED OUTSIDE OF JUST THE COMMUNITY OF CITY GUESTS AND HAVE HAD POSITIVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS IMPACTING HOUSTON INCORPORATED SERVE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND 18 AND PROVIDES AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL IMPACTING HOUSTON INC. PROVIDES A LILY OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDES ONE AND TWO DAY WORKSHOPS THAT FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP, HIV AIDS, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THEIR SPONSOR, YOUTH SUMMITS, BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES, AND AN ANNUAL ROAD TRIP THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE NATION'S FINEST UNIVERSITIES. AND WHEREAS IN 19 90 CENT SIX, CYNTHIA BAILEY, RIGHT HERE TO MY RIGHT RESPONDED TO A GROWING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY STRESSORS WITHIN, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SURE THING INCORPORATED NOW IMPACTING HOUSTON INCORPORATED, SHE ENVISIONED A NEIGHBORHOOD HAVEN FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHOSE ENVIRONMENTS WERE WERE OTHERWISE PLAGUED WITH ACADEMIC EMPATHY, UM, ECONOMIC BLIGHT AND SOCIAL DECAY. THE BIRTH OF IMPACT IN HOUSTON, INCORPORATED IN ONE OF HOUSTON'S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AS WELL AS PROACTIVE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING. AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST 27 YEARS, IMPACT IN HOUSTON HAS EVOLVED IN A HOLISTIC FAMILY DRIVEN ORGANIZATION AIMED AT OVERALL ENRICHMENT AS WELL AS SPECIFIC LIFE DOMAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN, [00:30:01] YOUTH, AND THEIR FAMILIES. IMPACTING HOUSTON INCORPORATED IS A DYNAMIC NONPROFIT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TAILORED DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO URBAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH. AND WHEREAS IMPACTING HOUSTON, UM, IS A PROVEN COMMUNITY LEADER IN THE DELIVERY OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO INNER C CITY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WITH 27 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL SERVICE HISTORY IMPACTING HOUSTON HAS EARNED THE TRUST OF COMMUNITY FAMILIES AND THE RESPECT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS, UM, IMPACTING HOUSTON ON THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO EMPOWER HOUSTONIANS AND OUR YOUTH. OOH, WOW. . THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER, MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AS IMPACT IN HOUSTON INCORPORATED DAY IN THE CITY OF CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, PAUL. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. TRUST ME. I DIDN'T EXPECT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP. I TOLD MY OLDEST SISTER AND LOOKED LIKE SHE TOLD EVERYBODY ELSE . UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO GIVE HONOR AND THANKS TO GOD AND FOR MY BOARD MEMBERS, MAN, THEY'RE THE GREATEST. MY FAMILY, MY ONE AND ONLY SON DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS GONNA BE HERE. HE WAS IN DENVER LAST NIGHT. , MY NIECE WHO STARTED THE PROGRAM AS A BABY IS THREE. AND I SAID AFTER HER, THERE'LL BE NO MORE. BUT YOU SEE, SHE HAVE TWO NOW, . SO WE WERE SURE THING. WE ARE IMPACTING HOUSTON. UH, WE HAVE AN EVENT ON SATURDAY. WE GONNA GIVE AWAY TOYS, BIKES. AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO AN IMPACT IN HOUSTON EVENT, TRUST ME, YOU'VE MISSED IT. YEAH, YOU WOULD WANT TO BE THERE. UH, I'M GONNA LET MY, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD SPEAK. MR. HUBERT HINES. COME ON, MAN. I'D LIKE TO START BACK IN 1968 WHEN MY MOTHER AND FATHER GUYS. THANK YOU. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER IN THIS JOURNEY. UH, OUR MAYOR, VESTOR TURNER, HAS NOT MISSED AN EVENT SINCE WE'VE STARTED. HE DOESN'T SHOW UP AND JUST SHAKE HANDS. HE TALKS WITH THE KIDS, HE DANCES WITH THE SENIORS PICTURES, GIVES AWAY GIFTS, GIVES AWAY EGGS. I MEAN, THIS GUY'S A MARTYR IN THE SET OF GUYS COMMUNITY AND HE WILL BE MYTHS. AND WE, WE, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING OR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO GREAT THINGS IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND, AND THANK YOU. I WANT TO GIVE, UM, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER SAY SOMETHING FORMER, FORMER I FORMER MAYOR PRO RESPECT VICE MAYOR PROAM. YES. VICE MAYOR. PRO VICE MAYOR. PRO VICE MAYOR PROM. GO AHEAD, MR. ASSESSOR. IT BETTER. OKAY. NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THIS IS A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN, UH, I'LL TELL YOU, IMPACT IN HOUSTON THROUGH EVERY, EVERY NATURAL DISASTER OR DISASTER WE HAD PREDATING, BUT JUST DURING 2016, APRIL, THEY WERE OUT THERE SHOVELS, EVERYTHING. 2017 HARVEY, THEY WERE OUT THERE, 2018 AMELDA. THEY WERE OUT THERE. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM SO MUCH. BUT BESIDES ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR BACKPACKS, EASTERS, UH, SENIORS, BUT THOSE CRITICAL TIMES IN DISTRICT B, THEY WERE HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON WORKING. SO I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND YOU KNOW, I MISS YOU ALL, BUT YOU'RE IN GREAT HANDS. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. UM, I LOVE THIS FOR A LOT OF REASONS, UH, TO SEE YOU AND CYNTHIA STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, YOU GIVING HER A PROCLAMATION AND US CELEBRATING HER DAY BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT SHE DOES FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY IS MONUMENTAL. UM, ALL OF THE PEOPLE STANDING HERE TODAY, WE KNOW YOUR HEARTS. WE KNOW YOUR HEARTS, UM, FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE REALLY KNOW THE TESTAMENT, UM, AND THE TRIALS THAT IT TOOK FOR YOU TO GET HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO GET HERE. AND I LOVE THIS FOR SO MANY REASONS BECAUSE, UM, WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE NO PERMANENT ENEMIES IN POLITICS BECAUSE [00:35:01] WE NEED EACH OTHER AND WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. AND YOU HAVE REPRESENTED THAT HERE TODAY. CYNTHIA, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. SO TO EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO STANDS HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, I MISS SITTING NEXT TO YOU. J JERRY TAUGHT ME HOW TO USE A MICROPHONE UP HERE WHEN I GOT HOME, CITY COUNCIL. SO I'M SO HAPPY FOR EACH OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, ED POLLARD, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO AND COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. MAYOR, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY DAVIS. I SEE TRUSTEE RHONDA SKILLER AND JONES IN THE BACK, THE WHOLE CREW. UM, BUT CYNTHIA, CONGRATULATIONS. THE WHOLE IMPACTING HOUSTON TEAM. UH, THE ENTIRE CITY KNOWS ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAKE, AND SO I WANNA, UH, GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS WHILE YOU CAN SMELL THEM. YOU HAVE ALL YOUR SUPPORT TEAM AROUND YOU, UM, AND IS GLAD TO SEE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU JUST DO FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SPECIFICALLY OVER IN DISTRICT J. UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU IN MANY WAYS, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SUPPORTING YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD. SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM AND, AND VICE MAYOR PROAM SAID WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY. IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE, UM, CYNTHIA BAILEY AND TASHA JACKSON HERE TO, THAT'S WHAT MAKES HOUSTON GREAT, RIGHT? AND CYNTHIA'S A FRIEND AND SOMEBODY WHO REALLY CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AT IMPACTING HOUSTON FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR SENIORS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR DISASTERS. GREAT TO SEE THE VICE MAYOR, FORMER VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM HERE IN THE CHAMBER. AND JUST, UH, THANK YOU, UH, GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAY, CANNOT DO THIS WORK ALONE AND REALLY NEED THE, THE FEET ON THE GROUND, UM, ALL OVER THE CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU, CYNTHIA, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. RIGHT, GOOD SEEING YOU, JERRY. WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE [00:40:05] TO TURNER FOR A PROCLAMATION TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON INITIATIVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. PORT MEMBERS. OKAY, HERE THEY COME. TODAY I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS, UH, TIME AND AGAIN STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY'S PROGRAM AND INITIATIVES. ON MARCH 26TH, 2016, I LAUNCHED A TURNAROUND HOUSTON INITIATIVE IN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO HOUSTONIANS IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAD HIGH POPULATIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, RETURNING CITIZENS, AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AFTER HOUSTON WAS DEVASTATED BY HARVEY IN 2017, THIS ORGANIZATION WORKED AT THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE 300 PLUS CITY OF HOUSTON TEMPORARY JOBS TO ASSIST IN THE EXTENSIVE CLEANUP AND REPAIRS OF VARIOUS CITIES, FACILITIES, AND PUBLIC SPACES. FROM DAY ONE UNTIL RECENTLY, AS LAST WEEK, THIS ORGANIZATION AND COLLABORATION WITH OBO MARSH MURRAY , UH, UH, HAS ORGANIZED 23 JOB AND READINESS FAIRS AND EVENTS WHERE THOUSANDS OF HOUSTON AREA JOB SEEKERS HAVE RECEIVED ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH HIRING EMPLOYERS, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND VARIOUS RESOURCES AND RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS, CREATING NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN AN INVALUABLE ECONOMIC DEPLOYMENT PARTNER AND HAVE HELPED HOUSTON ATTRACT MAJOR EMPLOYERS BY PROVIDING NO OR LOW COST SERVICES THAT HAVE RANGED FROM ON THE JOB TRAINING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO PAYROLL FUNDING AND HUMAN RESOURCES ONBOARDING SERVICES, RESOURCES FOR ONBOARDING SERVICES. THEIR TEAM MEMBERS AVAILED THEMSELVES AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR UNIFIED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO DEVELOP A CUSTOMIZED PLAN FOR EMPLOYERS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE DEVELOPING A UNIQUE JOB TRAINING CURRICULUM IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN AEROSPACE AND BIOCHEMICAL. AND FINALLY, THIS ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO BEEN A PARTNER IN MY HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM, AND I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO WHEREAS WORKFORCE SOLUTION IS THE OPERATING AFFILIATE OF THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD, AND WHEREAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS THE PUBLIC WORKFORCE SYSTEM IN THE 13 COUNTY HOUSTON GALVESTON REGION OF TEXAS AND DIRECTLY DELIVER SERVICES ACROSS THE REGION TO HELP EMPLOYERS MEET THEIR HUMAN RESOURCE NEEDS AND INDIVIDUAL BUILD, INDIVIDUALS BUILD CAREERS. SO BOTH CAN COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS WORKFORCE SOLUTION HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ON MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER TURNAROUND HOUSTON INITIATIVE SINCE 2016 AND SINCE, SINCE THIS TIME, THE OBO AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAVE JOINTLY ORGANIZED 23 JOB AND READINESS FAIRS. AND WHEREAS THESE EVENTS HAVE NOT ONLY PROVEN TO BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND SKILLS SETS, BUT HAVE CREATED NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORTED THE GROWTH OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FALSE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HOUSTON HAVE BEEN TRULY COMMENDABLE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON APPLAUDS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF OBOS MISSION TO DEVELOP HOUSTON'S WORKFORCE WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DISENFRANCHISED INDIVIDUALS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S OBO LOOKED FORWARD TO ITS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 AS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND INTRODUCE YOU, EITHER ONE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JULIET STA STAPE AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, OUR FRIENDS OVER AT BAKER RIPLEY, OUR TEAM MEMBERS AT BAKER RIPLEY. UH, OUR [00:45:01] WORK WITH TURNAROUND HOUSTON AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF IT. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND HIRE HOUSTON'S YOUTH. AND, UH, WE WANT TO ALWAYS BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THE WORK, GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL DO HERE AT THE COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL. AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION VERY MUCH. AND TO MY FRIENDS AND MY PARTNERS HERE, WE DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. INTRODUCE EVERYBODY. MR. CO, IF YOU ALL ALL INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. LADIES. HI, I'M A MARTINEZ, LORENA CAMPO WITH BAKER RIPLEY. YES. HELLO. UM, I AM CHRISTY HEL AND I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE FOR THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT INTRODUCING MYSELF. MY NAME IS RUSSELL TO AND I'M SENIOR SENIOR MANAGER OF, UH, CAREER SERVICES AT THE, UH, GULF COAST, UH, WORKFORCE BOARD. THANK YOU. AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE THE, UH, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TEAM MEMBERS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THESE TURNAROUND HOUSTON FEARS A SUCCESS, ALONG WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, NORMA MEADOWS, WHO HAS LED THE EFFORT SINCE 2016, AND JESSE RUBIO AS WELL. SO CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEIR WORK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR APPROACH. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC, AS YOU KNOW, JOBS WERE ON THE LINE AND LOST, AND PEOPLE WERE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK. AND IN DISTRICT FI WAS HAD THE PLEASURE OF PARTNERING WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, UH, WHERE YOU REALLY HELPED OWN THAT JOB FAIR ON THE WEST SIDE, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. UM, EVERYTHING FROM THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, WHAT TO DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, HEAD SHOTS, ALL OF THAT STUFF WAS DONE AND, UH, WE ARE BETTER FOR IT ON THE WEST SIDE. AND ALSO TO THE, UM, OBO OFFICE DIRECTOR MURPHY MURRAY HOSTING A TURNAROUND. HOUSTON JOBS FAIR AT THE NEW ALE COMMUNITY CENTER THIS SUMMER WAS REMARKABLE. IT WAS FULL HIGH DEMAND. PEOPLE WERE ASKING, WHEN ARE YOU DOING ANOTHER? SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, UM, GETTING HOUSTONIANS BACK TO WORK. IF IT'S REENTRY, YOUNG PEOPLE, THOSE TRANSITIONING CAREERS, YOU'RE DEFINITELY AN ASSET AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH Y'ALL IN THE FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD J. POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM. AND, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, WE LEAN ON WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS A LOT, PROBABLY ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. UM, I KNOW ONE TIME I TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A JOB FAIR ON MY OWN MAYOR, HARDLY NOBODY CAME . SO WE, WE THEN PARTNERED WITH OBO, WE PARTNERED WITH, UH, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND DID IT AGAIN. AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT TURNOUT. AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS SAID, IT WASN'T JUST EMPLOYERS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, UH, HAIRCUTS AND RESUME BUILDING. IT WAS JUST A LOT OF RESOURCES. SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO LEAN ON YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY C ALCORN. THANK YOU MAYOR PARTTIME. AND MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THE TURNAROUND HOUSTON PROGRAM'S BEEN A BIG DEAL FOR YOU AND, UM, IT, THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING, PUTTING ON THESE 23 JOB FAIRS IS SO IMPORTANT. I, I'VE SPENT SOME TIME DOING A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, UH, PROGRAM AT THE DARRINGTON UNIT, AND SO MANY OF THE MEN WOULD TELL ME ABOUT GETTING OUT AND NOT BEING ABLE, THEY WERE BACK IN BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND, UH, MEANINGFUL WORK. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. THIS IS A, THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S A BIG PIECE OF OUR ECONOMY, AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. [00:50:07] OKAY, MAYOR PRO CHAIR [2:00 P.M. – INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO TEM MARTIN FOR THE IATION. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, FOR MANY OF US, THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING. THIS IS OUR LAST PUBLIC SESSION. AND, UM, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN HONOR. I'VE ALWAYS DONE MY PRAYERS MYSELF BECAUSE IT GAVE ME A LOT OF TIME, WHETHER YOU'RE CHRISTIAN, JEW, ISLAMIC, WHATEVER YOUR RELIGION IS, IT GIVES US A TIME FOR REFLECTION, A TIME FOR MEANINGFUL THOUGHT, A TIME FOR FOLKS TO REALLY USE IT AS A MOMENT OF SILENCE IF THEY SO CHOOSE. UH, SO AS WE PREPARE, UH, TO EXIT, UH, THIS COUNCIL, I STARTED READING THE BOOK OF REVELATION. UH, REVELATION IS THE FINAL BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE CHRISTIAN BOOK, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. IN GREEK ALPHA IS THE BEGINNING, AND THE OMEGA IS THE END. AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, MANY ILLUSTRATIONS ARE GETTING GIVEN IN REVELATION, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PARTS OF THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE. AND WITH THAT, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LORD'S MESSAGE IN REVELATION IS THAT HIS EXISTENCE IS FOR ALL ETERNITY. AND HIS EXISTENCE IS THAT GOD IS ETERNAL AND PRAY FOR NOT ONLY WHAT IS, BUT WHAT IS TO COME. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THAT, AND THE AUTHOR WAS JOHN AND SOME TESTIMONIES, JOHN, AND THE, THE HEBREW LANGUAGE WAS, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST, JOHN THE DISCIPLE. BUT SINCE THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN 95 AD IT PROBABLY WASN'T JOHN DURING THE BIBLICAL TIMES, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS EXCITING TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF OUR ABILITY TO SIT HERE IN REFLECTION, WHETHER IT'S A MOMENT OF PRAYER, BUT I USE IT TO PERSPEC PEC AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THIS MOMENT IN THIS TIME IS ALL THINGS, THINGS HAPPEN THROUGH THE GRACE OF OUR GOD. SO I'D ASK EVERYONE TO BOW THEIR HEADS. I'D ASK FOR EVERYONE TO BOW YOUR HEADS. YOU CAN BE AS TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL AS YOU WANT, BUT MY LORD AND SAVIOR GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT HERE AND DO THIS. SO THANK YOU, LORD FOR THE MANY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. THANK YOU FOR LIFE ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH. WE NEED TO FULFILL ALL OF OUR CALLINGS. THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANKS FOR LOVING US, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T DESERVE IT MANY TIMES. AND FOR YOUR BOUNDLESS AND GRACIOUS NATURE, I PRAY FOR EVERYONE, EVERYONE GATHERED HERE TODAY. I AM ASKING THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY GRANT US THE WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING ISSUES OF OUR TIME. GRANT US A SENSE OF TRUE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. GRANT US THE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS FITTING. GRANT US THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT. GRANT US PERSONAL PEACE IN OUR LIVES AND JOY IN THE TASK THAT WE DO. I PRAY FOR OUR CITY. I PRAY FOR THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US MOVING FORWARD. PLEASE GIVE US AN ASSURANCE OF WHAT YOU, WHAT PLEASES YOU, AND WHAT WOULD BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN AND AROUND OUR BELOVED CITY. IN YOUR MOST BLESSED NAME, THROUGH MY THOUGHTS, THROUGH MY SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, I ASK YOU TO PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE TRY, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AS THEY DON'T STAND THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS IN ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. JUSTICE FOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH, [ROLL CALL AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING] MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. HERE. COUNCILMAN PECK HERE. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN KAMAN WILL BE ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN AZZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN MARTIN. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN THOMAS. CONSTABLE HUFFMAN. PRESENT. CONSTABLE CISNEROS. HERE. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS? HERE. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? HERE. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM. HERE. COUNCIL KNOX. HERE. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN COOPER WATCH WILL BE BE ABSENT. COMFORTABLE. PLUMMER AND CONSTABLE ALCORN HERE NEED A MOTION TO DELAY THE MINUTES. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON. YOU HONOR, YOU HEARD THE MOTION? ANY OBJECTION? YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ANY OBJECTION? CHAIR FOUND IN MOTION IS GRANTED. UM, FOR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL [00:55:01] MEMBER PAT. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE KAREN FELDMAN TO THE, UM, THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST AFTER STEVEN PLUM THOMAS. SECOND. IT'S ALL WOMEN A YOU'RE ADDING? YES. OKAY. SECOND. INFER THE MOTION BEEN SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. MOTION IS GRANTED. COUNCILMAN THOMAS, CAN YOU CLARIFY? ARE ARE, HAVE WE TRIGGERED THE ONE MINUTE RULE? WE, WE ARE DOING THIS RIGHT QUICK. LET, LET ME HANDLE THE PROCEDURAL. YES, SURE. OKAY. SO IF, SO THEN I, I MOVE TO, UM, ADD DOUG SMITH TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA. IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN, UM, MOVED TO ADD DOUG SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. AND OBJECTION CHAIR. NOT A MOTION IS GRANTED. THANK YOU FOR THE ONE MINUTE. WHAT TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE. ONE MINUTE AGENDA. THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE CHAIR. RECOGNIZED. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I NEED TO, I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE DIANE SHEPHERD TO THE TOP OF THE ONE MINUTE NUN AGENDA AS WELL AS GEORGE PICADO AND WILL HILL. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION BEEN SECOND? ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. OKAY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO, UH, PUT LENORA OLA PULLMAN TO FOLLOW GEORGE PITO. AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON THAT, UM, WILL HILL, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON HAD. SO THAT'S WHERE LENORA WOULD GO. IS THERE A SECOND TO IS SECOND. THANK YOU. BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. AND ANY OBJECTION, SHERRY? NONE. A MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER AL COHEN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO MOVE RABBI SCOTT HOUSEMAN WEISS TO JUST ABOVE. ELISE COLEMAN'S ON THE THREE MINUTE NON AGENDA LIST. SECOND ROBINSON, WE HAVE MOVE THIS SECOND. ANY OBJECTION, CHAIR? NONE. THE MOTION IS GRANTED. CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PRO. NO. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. DID CHAIR RECOGNIZES MAYOR PROAM MARTIN? YES. MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADD MR. JACOB CLEMENTI TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ONE MINUTE AGENDA. LIST PREVIOUS SPEAKERS? YES. SECOND TO BE THE VERY LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE OF THE YEAR. 2023. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND, SECOND, ROBINSON. OKAY. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND [PUBLIC SPEAKERS] BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, EXCEEDED THE 150 MINUTE LIST THAT WILL TRIGGER RULE, UH, MATTER. SECRETARY HERE, PLEASE READ RULE EIGHT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION A, IF THE TOTAL OF THE TIMES REQUESTED BY SPEAKERS AT ANY COUNCIL MEETING IS GREATER THAN 150 MINUTES, THE MAYOR SHALL SO ANNOUNCE AND EACH SPEAKER'S TIME SHALL BE ONE MINUTE. FURTHERMORE, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUB SUBSECTION ARE INVOKED. THE QUESTION TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL BE LIMITED TO A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE FOR EACH SPEAKER NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RULE. AND CON AND RULE 10 TO THE CONTRARY. OKAY. JUST TO, JUST TO EMPHASIZE, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR, WHETHER IT WAS THREE MINUTES, TWO MINUTES, UH, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE. ONE MINUTE. AND THEN FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TODAY I'M GOING TO, UH, UH, HOLD US TO THE RULE. THANK YOU. YOU GET ONE MINUTE COLLECTIVE, WHICH MEANS IF SOMEBODY TAKES UP 30 SECONDS, EVERYBODY ELSE ONLY HAS 30 SECONDS LEFT. UH, THERE WILL BE NO MOTIONS TO EXTEND. OKAY. WE WILL STICK WITH THE RULE. ONE MINUTE. MM-HMM . AND CITY COUNCIL ARE COLLECTIVE. ONE MINUTE, NO EXTENSIONS. OKAY. UH, AND LET ME REMIND EVERYONE OF THE RULES OF THE CHAMBER. I LIKE DOING THE PROCLAMATIONS AND PEOPLE WERE CLAPPING. UH, DURING THIS SESSION, UH, NO CLAPPING IS ALLOWED. IF YOU AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER AND YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU CAN CERTAINLY RAISE YOUR HANDS. UM, YOU CAN STAND UP, UH, BUT NO CLAPPING. I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO, UH, RESPECT THE RULES AND THE DECORUM OF THE CHAMBER. UM, IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. AND I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO RESPECT, UH, THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE MIC. WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THOSE OPINIONS OR NOT, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT, UH, TO EXPRESS THEIR, TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. SO PLEASE LET ME ASK YOU TO ADHERE, UH, TO THE RULES. IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT IN HEARING, UH, BUT THAT IS, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. OKAY. SO, UH, COUNCIL [01:00:01] MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU'RE SAYING THE SPEAKER WILL HAVE A MINUTE, BUT IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER ANSWERS OR TALKS TO THE SPEAKER, WE HAVE A MINUTE. SO IT'S TOTAL TO COUNCIL MEMBER. SORRY. TOTAL OF ONE MINUTE. WELL, I'M SORRY BUT THAT THESE ARE SPEAKERS AND I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPLY TO THEM, BUT ALL WITHIN ONE MINUTE I'LL GIVE YOU OKAY. I'LL GIVE YOU EACH ONE MINUTE. OKAY. EVEN THOUGH THE RULE SAYS IT'S A COLLECTIVE ONE MINUTE, BUT EACH CAN HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I SIMPLY WANT THE PROCESS TO MOVE ALONG. UM, OKAY. MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER? DOUG SMITH. DOUG SMITH IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. TOMORROW WILL BE THE LAST DAY. I WILL SEE SEVEN OF YOU AROUND YOUR SEATS IN THIS HORSESHOE. YOU'VE SEEN ME MANY TIMES HERE AND WHILE I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE ISSUE OR YOU DON'T, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE ISSUES. I THINK NO MATTER WHAT OUR POSITIONS, WE BELIEVE WE'RE ADVOCATING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY. AND I HOPE I HAVE ALWAYS PRESENTED MY ARGUMENTS IN A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL MANNER. ONE FINAL TOPIC WHERE I MUST DISAGREE. AGENDA ITEM 72. ON THIS WEEK'S AGENDA, ESTABLISHING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, I THINK SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED IN THE LAST MEETING OF AN OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION, BUT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE WHITMEYER ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE IF IT SHOULD BE CONTINUED. SINCE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN TAGGED IN THE LAST TWO MEETINGS, I AM ASKING THAT AT LEAST NINE OF YOU VOTE KNOW TO GIVE THAT OPTION TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. AND MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING TO YOU. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE BEEN THE PERSON WHO KEPT TRACK OF YOUR SCHEDULE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. YOU SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE ALL OF THE TIME, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, AND I THANK YOU FOR IT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU WAKE UP ON JANUARY 1ST WITH AN ALMOST EMPTY CALENDAR OTHER THAN PERHAPS BRUNCH WITH YOUR FAMILY. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, WHETHER YOU'RE LEAVING OR RETURNING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR OR ANY OTHER HOLIDAY YOU MIGHT BE CELEBRATING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOUG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, VANESSA COLE. VANESSA COLE. VANESSA COLE IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY HARRY KLEIN. HELLO EVERYONE. UH, HONORABLE MAYOR TURNER, TEAM MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VANESSA COLE. I'M ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS AT COLE KLINE BUILDERS, AND WE HAVE A MODIFICATION TO OUR, UM, CONTRACT WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 37, WHICH IS A 200 HOME DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THE NATION'S LARGEST BUILDER, DR. HORTON, UNDER MAYOR TURNER'S 3000 AFFORDABLE HOME INITIATIVE. SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA. AND, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. OKAY, I'M GONNA TRY THIS. ANYWAY, I JUST WANNA COMMEND YOU, VANESSA, FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT THAT YOU PRESENT TO US, UH, PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT D. SO I'M GONNA STOP NOW. THANK YOU. YEAH. DISTRICT D OF DESTINATION. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ. I RECOGNIZE YOU. DID YOU, DID YOU SPEAK ? NEXT SPEAKER. HARRY KLEIN. HARRY KLEIN. HARRY KLEIN. NEXT. JANICE CARTER. JANICE CARTER. JANICE CARTER'S HERE. THREE. FOLLOWED BY WESLEY CARTER. ONE AT A TIME. ONE AT A TIME. OKAY, MS. CARTER. GOOD MORNING. MY HEART IS HEAVY. I JUST GOT A CALL ON THE PHONE THAT MS. RUBY TERRELL, WHO MAYOR YOU, CAME AND GAVE HER THE KEYS TO HER HOUSE. WE REDID HER HOUSE. I REMEMBER I JUST GOT A CALL 30 MINUTES, UH, 30 SECONDS AGO THAT SHE PASSED AWAY. AH, AND WE JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE ASKING NOW THAT YOU'RE LEAVING, THERE'S A LOT NEXT DOOR TO WOODRUFF PARK. IT'S A VACANT LOT. IT'S A 50 BY 100. WE'RE JUST ASKING THE CITY TO PLEASE BUY THAT LOT SO WE CAN EXPAND THE WOODRUFF PARK AND WE CAN CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF THE SENIORS WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE HOUSTON [01:05:01] WAS IT'S HARRISBURG SMITH EDITION. ROBERT IGOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. WE'RE STILL NEEDING HELP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL ARE LEAVING, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR ANYBODY THAT STAYS ON TO HELP US. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE COUNCILMAN LES. AND I REMEMBER THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN GAGGLES, YOU BROUGHT THAT TO MY ATTENTION. I HAVE YOUR PICTURE RIGHT HERE, MAYOR, GIVING HER THE KEYS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS. I KNOW THAT, UH, BRINGING IT TO THE MAYOR'S ATTENTION WHEN HE WAS THERE, WHEN WE DID THE IMPROVEMENTS AT WOODRUFF PARK, HE WAS THERE OF COURSE, UH, AND, UH, BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTENTION THAT THAT PROPERTY NEXT DOOR WAS UP FOR SALE. UH, AND, AND, AND THANK YOU MAYOR. AND IT'S, IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW. IT'S, UH, YES. SO I I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL, WILL SUPPORT THAT. PLEASE. UH, IT'S AN EXPANSION OF WOODRUFF PARK THERE IN SMITH EDITION. UH, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO IN SMITH EDITION, AND I'M SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE PASSING. GOOD JUSTICE. I I, I I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WE WERE OUT THERE AND, AND RENOVATING HER HOUSE. YES. UH, AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY HER HOUSE. UH, YES. UH, YES. FOR ONE YEAR AND A HALF. YES. YES. BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY IT, SO, SO THANK GOD THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY IT AND SEE IT. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HER HUSBAND WAS A VETERAN ALSO, SO THANK YOU'ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT. WESLEY CARTER. NOW MR. CARTER, GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, TO THE MAYOR, WILL YOU SIT IN FRONT OF THE MIC? YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, TO THE MAYOR, TO THE COUNCILS, UH, STAFF MEMBERS. JUST HERE TO SHOW GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE WORK AND SUPPORT THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE HERE. UH, OUTGOING, UH, MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE ONES THAT'S REMAINING. UH, MY WIFE IS JUST, UH, KIND OF EMOTIONAL ABOUT, UH, THE PASSING OF MISS RUBY TERRA. SHE JUST GOT THE WORD. BUT, UH, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THAT LITTLE SMALL HISTORIC COMMUNITY. IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST COMMUNITY IN THE CITY. HARRISBURG. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WARDS AND ALL THAT SMALLER, UH, COMMUNITY, BUT HARRISBURG, SMITH EDITION, MANCHESTER, ALL THE, JUST THE OLDEST, UH, COMMUNITY IN THE CITY. AND SO WE JUST ASKED FOR A CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE. WE'D LIKE TO GET THAT, UH, SMALL LINE NEXT TO IT'S BEEN A SMALL PARK. AND, UH, JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THAT'S ALL. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT IS ON THE AGENDA BY TOMORROW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. AND, AND, AND THANK YOU WESLEY, UH, FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE, UH, FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO IN SMITH EDITION, LIKE YOU STATED, UH, TH THIS IS THE, UH, OLDEST AREAS IN THE, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, SMITH EDITION MANCHESTER. THAT, THAT'S THE OLD HARRISBURG, WHICH WAS FOUNDED 10 YEARS BEFORE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 1826. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, THERE'S A HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERY, UH, THE JACK, UH, HARRISBURG. JACKSON. JACKSON CEMETERY. JACKSON, YES. WHERE, UH, UH, I'VE NOT MENTIONED IT MANY TIMES, UH, WHERE SAM HOUSTON'S, UH, UH, BODY SERVANT SLASH SLAVE, UH, IS BURIED. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, THERE, THERE AT THE JACKSON HARRISBURG CEMETERY. SO IT'S A RICH HISTORY. UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MAYOR, UH, TURNER FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DONE IN IMPROVING THAT PARK AT WOODRUFF PARK THERE IN SMITH EDITION AND NOW ENLARGING IT. SO, UH, SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DIANE SHEPHERD. DIANE SHEPHERD. DIANE SHEPHERD IS HERE TO BE FOLLOWED BY GEORGE PITO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DIANE SHEPHERD. I'M WITH THE FRIENDS OF BE OF SHEPHERD LEGACY. I COME TODAY BECAUSE I WAS INFORMED. WE HAD A GROUNDBREAKING FOR A LIBRARY IN THE COMMUNITY AND I TALKED TO DR. LAWSON ON YESTERDAY. BUT MY CONCERNS IS THE FRIENDS OF BEHLER SHEPHERD LEGACY HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUHLER SHEPHERD ACRES HOME NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A BLACK HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST. WE'VE DONE FUNDRAISERS. AND THE REASON I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUTLER SHEPHERD RIS HOME NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY, WE DID NOT HAVE ONE. AND MY MOM CAME TO CITY COUNCIL EVERY DAY BACK IN 1970 WITH FRED HOFFINS AND LARRY MCCASKILL. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THIS NEW LIBRARY CONTINUES TO HOLD HER NAME AND HOLD THE HISTORY OF THE LEGACY THAT SHE'S BROUGHT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND SHE'S A LEGEND. AND I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE KNOWS IF YOU WAS IN POLITICS, YOU WENT TO BEAH. SO MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT THE LEGACY CONTINUES AND THE NEW LIBRARY BE NAMED AFTER HER. AND ALSO ANOTHER CONCERN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE OLD LIBRARY. SO THANK YOU. WELL, WHAT I WILL SAY TO YOU IS THAT, UM, UH, THE OLD LIBRARY SERVED ITS PURPOSE, DAN, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT IT IS SORELY OUTDATED. UM, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE, IT NEEDS TO BE, UM, MUCH MORE ADVANCED. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE SERVICES IN THERE, TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, YOU NAME IT. UM, SO THIS IS A REGIONAL LIBRARY THAT WILL BE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. UM, AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE [01:10:01] OF A FUNCTIONAL USE AND WE'LL SERVICE EVEN A LARGER AREA. SO, UM, BUT WE ARE JUST IN THE INITIAL PHASES AND IT WILL, IT WOULD BE A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT LIBRARY IS CONSTRUCTED. OKAY. I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S ON RECORD THAT WE KNOW WE NEED A LIBRARY. WE KNOW THAT THE NAME IS MY CONCERN. WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT IT'S, THERE WOULD BE A NEW LIBRARY, UM, BUILT IN THAT AREA, BUT CAN'T SPEAK TO THE NAMING RIGHT NOW. OKAY, THANKS DIANE. NEXT SPEAKER. GEORGE PITO. GEORGE PITO. GOD, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. UM, SO MY CONCERN IS JENSEN PARK. I KNOW AT THIS POINT I SEEM LIKE A NUISANCE, BUT I KNOW THE IMPACT OF RENOVATING A PARK AND WHAT IT COULD DO TO A COMMUNITY. SO, UM, I'M GONNA KEEP ON PUSHING ON IT AS MUCH AS I CAN BECAUSE I LIVED FIRSTHAND AND SEEN WHAT, YOU KNOW, RENOVATION OR A LIBRARY OR A NEW PARK CAN DO. SO, UM, I KNOW THREE WEEKS AGO YOU'D HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN DECEMBER AND I AM GETTING A LITTLE WORRIED GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LEAVING OFFICE AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. SO JUST WANTED ANOTHER UPDATE ON THAT, SIR. UM, THE JENSEN PARK IS A PART OF THE NAVIGATION CENTER CONSTRUCTION AND THE RENOVATIONS IN THAT AREA. UH, SO THAT IS A PART THAT IS A PART OF THE, UM, AGREEMENT, SO TO SPEAK, THAT WE MADE WITH THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THAT COMMUNITY, UH, WON'T BE FINISHED, UM, BY THE TIME I LEAVE, BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION WILL MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. WELL, I WOULD, I WOULD UM, RECOMMEND YOU STAY VERY CLOSE IN CONTACT WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA JACKSON. SO WE TRIED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE COULD BEFORE THE TIME, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ONE IS GOING TO BE DONE BY THE TIME, BY THE END OF THE YEAR. I'LL CHECK, BUT I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FEVERISHLY TO TRY TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE. OKAY. AND LIKE IS THERE A NAME OF SOMEBODY THAT'S IN CHARGE OF ? I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO THROUGH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER. JACKSON, YOU'RE UP. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I ECHO THE MAYOR. JUST FOLLOW UP WITH OUR OFFICE. UM, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PROJECT CLO CLOSELY WORKING, UM, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND SO, UM, WOULD LOVE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU AS THE PROJECT EVOLVES AND, YOU KNOW, WRAP UP. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER. WILL HILL. WILL HILL. WILL HILL. WHERE IS THAT? A NEW PERSON. MY PAGE HERE. NEXT SPEAKER. LENORA. OLO. PULLMAN. LENORA. PULLMAN IS HERE. I'M HERE JUST TO SAY THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. Y'ALL HAD A HARD JOB THESE PAST EIGHT YEARS, BUT YOU'VE DONE THEM GREAT AND YOU'VE DONE THIS CITY GREAT. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY YOU WERE MY MAYOR, MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANKS RA. TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS NORA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, LENE CHE. CELINE CHE, LENE, CHE. HELLO, Y'ALL. UM, MY NAME IS NOT TALINE, UH, BUT I USE AN ALIAS BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE. UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM A HEALTHCARE WORKER. I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO RESEARCHING CANCER. I WORK IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY. AND MY, THE WHOLE POINT OF MY JOB IS TO TRY AND SAVE LIVES, TO SAVE CHILDREN. AND IT'S SO FRUSTRATING THAT THERE IS NO SYMMETRY IN THIS CONFLICT. WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH WHO THANKED A DOCTOR THAT CAME IN HERE FOR GOING TO SCHOOL, WHO WAS SUPPORTING THE CONTINUATION OF THIS GENOCIDE. MORE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ISRAEL IN TWO MONTHS, THEN HAVE DIED OF CANCER IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I'M LIKE, WHAT IS THE POINT OF ME DOING THIS JOB WHEN WE ARE ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN? THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ARE DYING. I DEDICATED MY LIFE TO SAVING LIVES, TO LIKE, TRYING TO FIND A CURE. AND WE'RE JUST ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK. WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE YIELD THEIR TIME? NO ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. NAYA CHADDA. NAYA CHADDA. [01:15:03] NAYA IS HERE. I AM A PEDIATRICIAN. NEVER BEHIND THE MIC. EITHER ONE. DO I GO THIS WAY? YEAH, THAT'S FINE. EITHER ONE. OKAY. UM, I'M A PEDIATRICIAN, A LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN. I HAVE WORKED IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOR LAST 21 YEARS WITH TEXAS CHILDREN HOSPITAL. I'M ALSO A NEWBORN SPECIALIST. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF GAZA BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE MY PASSION. THEY ARE MY LOVE. THEY WERE NOT ONLY MY LIVELIHOOD BUT MY LIFE. AND THESE CHILDREN ARE DYING AT AN UNNECESSARY RATE. UH, AS I LOOK AROUND, I SEE VERY NICE, COMPASSIONATE, KIND PEOPLE. SO I FEEL EMBOLDENED TO SPEAK TO YOU. THE CURRENT WAR HAS BEEN BUILT AS A WAR AGAINST HAMAS AND ISRAEL. I'M SORRY. THERE IS A WAR GOING UNDERNEATH, UNDER THE LAYER OF THE FIRST WAR THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S THE WAR AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF GAZA. THESE CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED. THEY'RE BEING MUTILATED, THEY'RE BEING BURNED BY PHOSPHORUS. AND IT IS VERY, AND THE I CAN GIVE, STAND HERE AND GIVE YOU HUNDREDS OF STATS. YOUR TOWN, THE FIRED MATERIAL BECAUSE THE WARD GOES ON. THANK YOU. I'M, I'M AN OLD LADY. I'M GONNA ASK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE FOR 30 SECONDS IN ALL THIS DISASTER. I GOT ONE SECOND. I I GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS. SO IN ALL THIS DISASTER THAT WE NEED A RAY OF HOPE AND I SEE A RAY OF HOPE IN ANOTHER CHILD THAT WAS BORN IN THE SAME LAND OF PALESTINE. HE WAS A JEWISH BABY. HE WAS BORN SOME 2000 YEARS AGO. AND WHEN HE LOOKS AT THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE DYING TODAY, HE SAYS TO THEM, LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME. HINDER THEM. NOT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HANNAH EL. HANNAH EL. IS THAT HANNAH? NEXT SPEAKER. AL RING. AL RING. SO I'M CONFUSED. I'M CONFUSED AS TO HOW CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE SOMEHOW OPPOSES BRINGING HOME THE HOSTAGES. BECAUSE HOW DOES BLINDLY BOMBING HOSPITALS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SOMEHOW AVOID HOSTAGES? MIRACULOUSLY? HOW DOES THAT ENSURE THEIR SAFETY? IF ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE LIVES OF THESE HOSTAGES, YOU WOULD BE UP HERE DEMANDING CEASEFIRE. ALL OF US WOULD BE UP HERE DEMANDING CEASEFIRE. BUT THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DEMANDING CEASEFIRE. IF YOU CAN CONVINCE ME THAT THIS MAKES SENSE, I WILL NEVER COME TO THIS PODIUM AGAIN. YOU MAYOR TURNER, THIS IS WHAT YOUR SO-CALLED LEGACY IS LEFT FOR AS IT'S TAINTED YOU HAVE FAILED HOUSTONIANS, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEIR WELLBEING. YOU CAN SILENCE ME. YOU CAN SILENCE ALL OF US, BUT NONE OF YOU'LL EVER SILENCE THE VOICE OF JUSTICE. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL BE HERE EVERY SINGLE WEEK. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, DEREK MOTEN. DEREK MOTEN. DEREK MOTEN. DEREK MOTON NEXT LUKE VO. HOLD ON A SECOND. IS THAT DEREK? DEREK IS HERE. HELLO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF PALESTINE AS WELL. I COME HERE TODAY AND I LOOK IN FRONT OF ME AND I SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LEADERS AND I DON'T SEE ONE PERSON BEHIND A MICROPHONE HAVE THE COURAGE ENOUGH TO SPEAK UP ON THE INJUSTICES BEING DONE IN ISRAEL. WE LOOK AT PEOPLE HERE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAVE FAMILY FROM THE EAST ON BOTH SIDES, AND WE DON'T HAVE A LEADERSHIP BASE HERE WITH THE COURAGE ENOUGH TO JUST SAY WHAT'S RIGHT. SO I CAME HERE FROM FIFTH WARD TO TO FROM FIFTH WARD ALL THE WAY TO GAZA TO TO REPRESENT WHAT'S RIGHT AND BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. ALSO AS WELL AT THE END OF MAYOR TURNER, HIS, HIS, HIS MAYORSHIP, UH, HERE IN THE CITY HALL. AND I SEE ALL THESE BLACK PEOPLE HERE ON, ON, ON THE STAGE AND WE STILL HAVE A SLAVE ON THE CEILING AT THE BOTTOM OF CITY HALL DOWNSTAIRS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET, BUT I GUESS THE LEADERS HERE DON'T HAVE PRIDE ENOUGH TO GET A SLAVE OFF THE WALL. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, COME ON BACK. SIR. COME BACK. COME ON BACK. WELCOME TO CITY HALL. YES [01:20:01] MA'AM. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE. SO YES MA'AM. WHAT'S IMPORTANT, YES, MA'AM, IS THAT YOU HAVE CONTEXT TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YES MA'AM. AND SO BECAUSE YOU, THIS IS YOUR FIRST MOMENT. YES MA'AM. HERE AT CITY HALL DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO OUR VOICES AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ADVOCATED. IT IS INTELLECTUALLY LAZY TO COME HERE AND MAKE THOSE STATEMENTS. OKAY? BEFORE THE CHAMBERS WERE EVEN FILLED UP, I CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE AND ENCOURAGED BY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME. OKAY? THERE ARE POLICE REFORMS THAT WE HAVE DONE, THE BLACK FOLKS HERE, OKAY? OKAY. BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT WE LED ON THAT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OKAY? SO WHEN YOU COME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE INFORMED OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPEN. WHAT ABOUT THE SLAVE ON THE WALL? MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE INFORMED. WHAT ABOUT THE SLAVE ON THE CEILING HAPPENING? ONE SECOND. IT'S MY TIME. IT'S OUR TIME. MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE INFORMED AND IF YOU WANNA BE EFFECTIVE IN YOUR CHANGE, WE WELCOME COLLABORATION. YES MA'AM. BUT DO NOT DO THAT. YOU'RE NOT, IT, IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO YOUR CAUSE WHEN YOU COME HERE AND ACCUSE US OF NOT HAVING LEADERSHIP WHEN WE HAVE STOOD ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC POST, GEORGE FLOYD IN THE MIDDLE OF DISASTER AND STILL TODAY. YES MA'AM. MS. THOMAS. THANK YOU. I I'M DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. LEMME JUST, AGAIN, LEMME JUST SAY AS WE PROCEED, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR VIEWS. BUT LET ME ASK THAT THE SIGNS THAT YOU NOT BLOCK PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR SIGNS. NOW IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP AND GO ALONG THE WALL, THAT'S FINE, BUT DO NOT BLOCK PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR SIGNS. LET'S BE RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER. NOW LET ME ALSO SAY YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO YOUR VIEWS ON THIS PODIUM. UM, BUT BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE ELSE, OKAY? BUT DO NOT BLOCK PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WITH YOUR SIGNS. NEXT SPEAKER. LOU SAVOY. LOU SAVOY. LOU LOU. NEXT SPEAKER. ISSA MILLER. ISSA MILLER. ISSA. ISSA MILLER. NEXT SPEAKER. DERON ZER. DERON ZER. DERON ZER. NEXT SPEAKER. JOSEPH NIA. JOSEPH NIA. JOSEPH NIA. NEXT SPEAK. ERNEST CALTON. ERNEST CALTON. ERNEST CALTON. NEXT SPEAKER. I'M SORRY, DID I MISS SOMEONE? ERNEST. ERNEST? YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I BELIEVE Y'ALL DID A TREMENDOUS JOB. MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER. I'VE BEEN KNOWING YOU OF YOU SINCE 1992. I WAS INCARCERATED IN PRISON FOR 30 YEARS AND I COME OUT HERE AND MY REASON FOR HERE, BEING HERE, I'M HOMELESS NOW. I NEED Y'ALL HELP AND Y'ALL SUPPORT. I DON'T WANT TO RECONSIDER AND GO BACK TO PRISON. I DIE IN THERE. BUT I WAS THROUGH THE RAPID REHOUSING OF THE RECORD APARTMENTS AND THEY EVICTED US AND PUT US ALL I THOSE, SOME OF 'EM, SOME OF 'EM GOT VOUCHERS. I I WAS UNFORTUNATE I DIDN'T GET A VOUCHER. AND I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING UNDER CONSIDERATION TO HELP ME. PLEASE. I'M, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN. I'M DISABLED RIGHT NOW, BUT I COULD DO A LITTLE WORK SOME KIND OF WAY. YOU KNOW, RENEE, UM, CAN YOU GET WITH THEM AND UM, IS THERE A WAY WE CAN CONTACT YOU IF THERE IS, IF YOU'LL LET RENEE KNOW SO HOW WE CAN CONTACT YOU. OKAY SIR. OKAY. GOD BLESS ALL Y'ALL. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID. YOU WAS ELECTED WHILE I WAS IN PRISON. I WAS IN PRISON. I WAS CLAPPING 'CAUSE I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO DO A SUPERB JOB. YOU, ONE SECOND. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY GOD BLESS YOU TO YOU TOO. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. I HOPE THAT YOU GET THE RESOURCES YOU NEED. YES SIR. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU. AND ALL Y'ALL HAVE A MERRY AL IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH RENEE. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER INE ABRAHAM INE ABRAHAM TO FOLLOWED BY ISAIAH MARTIN. HI GUYS. UM, SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT PREPARED TODAY. UM, I REALLY JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SPEAK EVERY WEEK. THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING AND FOR STAYING THE WHOLE TIME. A LOT OF US ARE NOT PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND WE TRIP OVER OUR WORDS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LENDING YOUR EARS AND, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR MINUTES AND FOR ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH US. UM, FIVE WEEKS AGO, IT WAS JUST ME AND BRENDAN THAT WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN PALESTINE. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME SPEAKING SO WE EACH ONLY GOT THREE MINUTES. SO A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES FROM THE ENTIRE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE. [01:25:01] I WAS SO SAD ABOUT IT. I LIKE CRIED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I DELETED IT LIKE 20 MINUTES LATER. 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE, WHY DID I DO THAT? BUT SOME PEOPLE SAW IT AND THEY CAME AND THEY SHARED. AND THEY SPOKE AND NOW WE HAVE 150 MINUTES GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON TO THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. MAY I HAVE? THANK YOU. MAY MAY, MAY SOMEONE COME TO ME PLEASE. THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU CAN HAVE MY MINUTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO I, I JUST WANNA END THIS BY SAYING WE KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU GUYS. WE TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS IN OUR GROUP CHATS. WE FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE, WE LITERALLY, YOU GUYS ARE FAMOUS AMONGST US. WE ARE YOUR PEOPLE. NOBODY IN YOUR DISTRICT NEEDS YOU MORE RIGHT NOW THAN THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE STOP TELLING US WHAT YOU CAN'T DO. LISTEN TO US, WE NEED YOU. TELL US WHAT YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN RELEASE INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS. THANK YOU. CAN YOU RELEASE ONE TOGETHER? FIVE MIN, FIVE PEOPLE COME UP HERE TO SPEAK AT THE END OF THAT ONE CHILD HAS DIED. 150 MINUTES AT THE END OF THIS 30 CHILDREN HAVE DIED. PLEASE. I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR, BUT IF I DO, THEN WE WILL PUSH HARDER. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. ISAIAH MARTIN. ISAIAH MARTIN. ISAIAH IS HERE. WE FOLLOWED BY BLANCA BLANCO. WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY? UH, I JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY. YOU KNOW, TODAY'S THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS THE LAST TIME I SEE A LOT OF YOU GUYS' FACES AROUND THE DICE. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED NATIONAL DISASTERS. THAT'S A HECK OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE FACT THAT THIS CITY IS STILL STANDING AND STILL MOVING FORWARD. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR THAT. MAYOR TURNER, YOU KNOW, MET YOU U OF HI WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DID FOR THE STUDENTS. YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US. YOU WERE ALWAYS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN YOU WORK HARD. AND WE KNEW EVERY SINGLE TIME WHEN WE SAW YOU, YOU'D BE SMILING NO MATTER WHAT WAS GOING ON. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER, AND THANK ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANKS IL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, BLANCA BLANCO. BLANCO BLANCO IS HERE. REFERRAL BY CHARLENE JONES. PLEASE STEP BEHIND THE MIC. HONOR MAYOR STOOD BEHIND THE MIC. MAYOR ONE OF THE MIC. SORRY, EITHER ONE. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BLANCA BLANCO. GOT EMOTIONAL. I AM AN EAST END RESIDENCE AND I LIVE ON ALTA VISTA STREET IN LAWNDALE, IN RIGHT IN THE EAST END. I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE EAST END DISTRICT AND CO-CHAIR OF THE ADV ADVOCACY ADVOCACY COMMITTEE OF LULAC COUNCIL 60. AND ALSO I'M, I'M A COMMUNITY LEADER AND ACTIVIST AS RESIDENTS. WE HAVE A GRAVE CONCERN REGARDING THE GREYHOUND MOVE COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, NAMELY, INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON CAPITAL AND HARRISBURG, INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. PROXIMITY OF THE TERMINAL NEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY BRISCOE ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. GALLEGOS ELEMENTARY, DOWN THE STREET AND OTHER SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. ALSO INCREASED POLLUTION FROM THE FUMES OF THE BUSES IN THE AREA. AND NOT TO MENTION THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DROPPING OFF NEWLY RELEASED PRISONERS IN OUR AREA. COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, THA THANK YOU BLANCA FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, UH, WITH THE EAST END ALLIANCE AND, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THERE IN THE EAST END. I KNOW THAT, UH, WE, WE WE'VE HAD MEETINGS AS YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED TO YOU IN REGARDS TO THE GREYHOUND STATION. YES. UH, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR CONCERNS AND MENTION 'EM HERE RIGHT NOW. YES, ABSOLUTELY. ALL I ASK OF ALL OF YOU IS THIS IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE. WE WILL DO OUR PART AS COMMUNITY, UM, MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ASK YOU, WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. WE ASK YOU TO HELP US AND, AND, AND MAKE GREYHOUND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROMISES THEY MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS. PLEASE, WE NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, CHARLENE JONES. CHARLENE JONES, CHARLENE. NEXT SPEAKER. ANGELA HARPER. ANGELA HARPER. ANGELA NEXT SPEAKER SHAW BENNETT SHAW BENNETT [01:30:01] IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS BENNETT. I'M HERE REPRESENTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR PALESTINE HOUSTON. WE ARE A COLLECTIVE OF OVER 200 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO STAND WITH THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE. IN OUR LINE OF WORK, WE ARE TAUGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THE WORLD. IT'S WITH THE SPIRIT THAT WE URGE THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T RELEASED A STATEMENT YET TO MAKE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE IN GAZA. ISRAEL HAS CURRENTLY BOMBED HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES IN GAZA INTO OBLIVION WHERE OUR HEALTHCARE WORKER COLLEAGUES HAVE RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS. AND WHERE INNOCENT PATIENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE BOMBARDMENT, FACING THE UNIMAGINABLE HORRORS OF A GENOCIDE WITHIN THE SUPPOSED SAFETY OF A HEALTHCARE SETTING. JUST YESTERDAY IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A CHILD IN A MATERNITY WARD, A DEVASTATING REMINDER OF THE URGENT NEED FOR A CEASEFIRE. AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WE CANNOT STAND IDLY BY AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ENDORSE AND FUND THIS GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS. IT IS DISHEARTENING THAT WHILE WE AS A CITY RIGHTLY CELEBRATED THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE NOW HESITATE TO CONDEMN THE KILLINGS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN GAZA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, AMANDA HUNT. AMANDA HUNT. AMANDA IS HERE. I'M HERE AS A JEWISH CONSTITUENT. MY JEWISH FAMILY WAS PERSECUTED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND THEN WIPED OUT BY THE NAZIS AS THEY OCCUPIED THE SOVIET UNION. THEY WERE CIVILIANS WHO WERE ROUNDED UP, SHOT EXECUTION STYLE, AND THROWN INTO A MASS GRAVE. I'M HERE TODAY IN MY FAMILY'S HONOR, LIKE THE PEOPLE BEING DUMPED IN MASS GRAVES IN PALESTINE NOW AND LIKE THE THREE HOSTAGES MURDERED BY THE IDF IN COLD BLOOD THIS WEEK AS THEY WAVED WHITE FLAGS AND BEGGED FOR THEIR LIVES, EACH OF THEM HAD HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THEIR FUTURES ALL EXTINGUISHED. I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT FOR YEARS THE JEWS KILLED IN THE HOLOCAUST WERE CONSIDERED TO BE THE INCIDENTAL COST OF WAR. I'M HORRIFIED TO SEE AMERICA AND ISRAEL DEPLOY THE SAME RHETORIC TO JUSTIFY VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS. I'M HERE TO SAY TO YOU LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAT THERE ARE MANY JEWISH CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHO STAND AGAINST ISRAEL'S POLICIES. I AM PROUD TO KNOW IN MY HEART WHAT JUDAISM HOLDS TO BE TRUE. EACH LIFE EXTINGUISHED IS A UNIVERSE UNTO ITSELF. ALL OF OUR LIVES ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, IMAN ALI. IMAN ALI ALI IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR TURNER AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I CAME HERE TODAY WITH A SPEECH PREPARED, BUT I FIND MYSELF AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. I'M LITERALLY READING THE WRITING ON THE WALLS. THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY TO HEAR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY. HOW MANY ISSUES DO YOU HEAR BEFORE YOU WHERE YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE PROTESTING, BEGGING YOU TO LISTEN TO THEM? I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED HOUSTONIAN. I'M AN ATTORNEY. I'M WONDERING WHEN WE ARE GONNA ASK OUR ALLIES TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF LAW. OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON THE RULES OF LAW. ISRAEL IS VIOLATING EVERY HUMANITARIAN LAW OUT THERE. WE HAVE MANY AGENCIES SAYING THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS WRONG, HAVE CALLED IT AN APARTHEID AND A GENOCIDE. WE AS A CITY MUST SPEAK UP. YOU HAVE THE POWER. THESE PROTESTS THAT HAPPEN, THEY REMIND ME OF THIS, WHAT I READ IN HISTORY BOOKS ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THOSE PEOPLE ARE HAILED AS HEROES. THEY WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAVE EXPIRED. CAN I HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE JUST TO IMPLORE YOU AS TO WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO DO AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS, PLEASE JUST MAKE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. NOW YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU REALLY DO. OUR NATIONAL LEADERS WILL HEAR IT, OUR REPRESENTATIVES WILL HEAR IT. AND MAYBE THE PEOPLE IN PARIS PALESTINE WHO ARE WISHING US A MERRY GENOCIDE INSTEAD OF A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WE'LL SEE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING UP FOR THEM. THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE, NOT JUST FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE. I BEG OF YOU, DO WHAT YOU CAN WITH THE POWER YOU HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RABBI SCOTT HAUSMAN WISE RABBI, RABBI IS HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL. JUST A MOMENT OF CLARIFICATION ABOUT HISTORY. THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT JEWISH PRESENCE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL FOR 3000 YEARS. ATTESTED TO BY THE HEBREW BIBLE, THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE, AND THE QURAN, PALESTINE IS THE NAME. THE ROMANS GAVE QUITE CYNICALLY TO THE LAND OF JUDEA, AT LEAST UNTIL 1947. THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA WAS NOT A NATION OR A CITY STATE. PALESTINE [01:35:01] WAS A SPOT ON THE MAP WHERE JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, JEWS, ARABS, AND OTHERS LIVED. IN 1947, THE UN VOTED FOR THERE TO BE A JEWISH STATE. THE JEWS ACCEPTED, THE ARABS SAID NO, AND THEY WAGED WAR. THOSE ARABS WHO STAYED IN WHAT BECAME ISRAEL ARE TODAY PART OF THE 20% OF THE ARAB ISRAELI CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY OF ISRAEL. IN THE SUCCEEDING YEARS CLOSE TO THE SAME NUMBER OF JEWS, ABOUT 700,000 WERE EXPELLED FROM ARAB COUNTRIES, WHICH THEIR FAMILIES HAD CALLED HOME FOR CENTURIES. TODAY, ONLY 31% OF ISRAELI'S ETHNIC ORIGINS ARE FROM EUROPE. LET ME JUST FINISH ONE SENTENCE. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE DESCENDED FROM SPAIN, NORTH AFRICA, ARAB PETS, AND ETHIOPIA. THANK YOU. ISRAEL IS ANYTHING BUT MAJORITY WHITE. NEXT SPEAKER, ELISE COMMONS. ELISE COMMONS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ESPECIALLY MAYOR TURNER FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE DEDICATED TO OUR CITY. IT HAS BECOME A WELL-KNOWN MANTRA THAT HOUSTON IS THE MOST DIVERSE CITY IN AMERICA. AN ATTRIBUTE THAT YOU HAVE EMBRACED AND CELEBRATED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. HOUSTONIANS RIGHTLY HAVE PRIDE IN THE CARING AND THOUGHTFUL COMMUNITY. WE ALL WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY TO CREATE. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR HOUSTON'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AND SO MANY OTHERS. WE DON'T WANNA TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME ON MATTERS UNRELATED TO CITY BUSINESS. HOWEVER WE FEEL COMPELLED TO BE HERE TODAY. TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL, WE'RE HERE TO BRIEFLY SHARE WHAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SHED LIGHT ON. WE WANT TO ENSURE YOU, OUR CITY REPRESENTATIVES, THAT YOU KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT ONE-SIDED. IT IS NOT BINARY, BLACK AND WHITE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE HOUSTON JEWISH COMMUNITY IS STILL REELING FROM THE VIOLENT TERRORIST ATTACKS OF OCTOBER 7TH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHEN PLUM. STEVEN PLUM STEVEN IS HERE AT 6:30 AM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, HAMAS LAUNCHED AN UNPROVOKED AND VICIOUS SURPRISE ATTACK ON ISRAEL. THEY INFILTRATED ISRAEL WITH ONE GOAL TO MURDER AND KIDNAP ISRAELIS. AND SADLY, THEY SUCCEEDED BY MURDERING 1200 AND KIDNAPPING SOME 240 PEOPLE, INCLUDING BABIES, TODDLERS, AND CHILDREN. SHOCKINGLY, THE WORD MURDER IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR PEOPLE ON THE DEADLIEST DAY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. SINCE THE HOLOCAUST, THE BARBARIC ATTACK INCLUDED TORTURE, RAPE, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE BURNING OF PEOPLE ALIVE IN THEIR HOMES. DR. KUGEL, THE HEAD OF THE ISRAELI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE, DESCRIBES SOME OF THE HORRORS. THIS IS A PIECE OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE CHARCOAL, BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT THROUGH A CT SCAN, YOU SEE TWO SPINES. YOU SEE TWO SETS OF RIBS. YOU CAN SEE THEY HAD ROPE AROUND THEM, METAL ROPE TIED AROUND THEIR WAIST. THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE HUGGING ONE ANOTHER AND WERE BURNED WHILE THEY WERE TIED TOGETHER. IT MIGHT BE A PARENT, IT MIGHT BE A CHILD. NEXT SPEAKER, KAREN FELDMAN, KAREN FELDMAN. SHE WAS MOVED ALSO AFTER OCTOBER 7TH. THE VICTIMS WERE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE TRAUMA THEY ENDURED. PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THE SCOPE OF THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE THAT WAS COMMITTED DURING THESE ATTACKS. IT EVEN TOOK THE UN OVER 50 DAYS TO ISSUE A PUBLIC STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED ON THAT DAY. WHILE IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, ONE INSTANCE STANDS OUT. FIRST RESPONDER SIMHA SAID, I WAS CALLED INTO A HOUSE. I WAS TOLD THERE ARE A FEW BODIES OVER THERE. I SAW IN FRONT OF MY EYES A WOMAN. SHE WAS NAKED AND SHE HAD NAILS. RAYMOND MANAGED TO SAY BEFORE PAUSING FOR A LONG TIME, STRUGGLING TO GET THE WORDS OUT. SHE HAD NAILS IN DIFFERENT OBJECTS IN HER FEMALE ORGANS. HER BODY WAS BRUTALIZED IN THE WAY THAT WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY HER WOMEN FROM ISRAEL. THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ONLY COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS TO MEN UNDER THE LAW ARE BEING REVICTIMIZED AND DEHUMANIZED EVERY TIME THE HORROR THEY ENDURED IS QUESTIONED. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER, NORI LEADER, NORI LEADER NORI IS HERE. THANK YOU. THERE HAS BEEN A COORDINATED CAMPAIGN OF MISCHARACTERIZATION AND DISINFORMATION UNLEASHED ON ISRAEL IN THIS ROOM. CLAIMS OF APARTHEID, COLONIZATION AND GENOCIDE. [01:40:01] ISRAEL IS A THRIVING DEMOCRACY AND THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD WHERE JEWS ARE GUARANTEED PROTECTION FROM ANTISEMITISM OR JEW HATRED. 20% OF ITS POPULATION IS ARAB ISRAELI ARABS VOTE. THEY SERVE IN ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT. THEY'RE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, JUDGES, ARTISTS AND STUDENTS. 50% OF ISRAEL ARE MADE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, INCLUDING THE NEARLY 1 MILLION JEWS EXPELLED FROM ARAB COUNTRIES LIKE TUNISIA, EGYPT, YEMEN, AND IRAQ. YOU KNOW, IN NAZI GERMANY, JEWS WERE PERSECUTED FOR BEING A NON-WHITE RACE. NOW WE'RE ACCUSED OF BEING WHITE COLONIZERS. JEWS ARE A DIVERSE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE HAD A PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND MODERN DAY ISRAEL SINCE BIBLICAL TIMES. NEXT SPEAKER, RABBI EDWIN GOLDBERG. RABBI GOLDBERG IS HERE. ISRAEL IS IN A WAR FOR ITS EXISTENCE. IT'S UGLY, MESSY, AND IT'S SAD FOR ALL SIDES. WE SYMPATHIZE WITH ALL WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, BUT IT'S WRONG TO CALL IT GENOCIDE. AS WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON JOHN KIRBY SAID, ISRAEL'S TRYING TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THE GENOCIDAL TERRORIST THREAT. SO IF WE'RE GONNA START USING THAT WORD, FINE, BUT LET'S USE IT APPROPRIATELY. THE IDF NOTIFIES CIVILIANS HOW TO GET OUT OF THE LINE OF FIRE AND CREATES HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS. SINCE HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN RELEASED, ISRAEL HAS INCREASED SUPPLIES INTO GAZA, INCLUDING THROUGH ISRAEL'S OWN CROSSING POINT. HAMAS' POLITICAL AND MILITARY STRATEGY IS GENOCIDE AND PROACTIVELY COMMITTING WORK CRIMES USING HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS TO STORE ARMS AND LAUNCH ATTACKS, COMMITTING SYSTEMIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO AGAINST ISRAELI WOMEN AND ATTACKING OLD PEOPLE, CHILDREN, PEACE ACTIVISTS, KIDS AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL INSTEAD OF MILITARY TARGETS. HAMAS OPENLY SAYS ITS GOAL IS TO HAVE ITS OWN PEOPLE KILLED. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MARISSA O'LEARY. MARISSA O'LEARY IS HERE. HAMAS, THE PERPETRATOR OF THIS ATTACK WAS DESIGNATED IN 1997 AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY THE US AND THE EU. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1987 AS AN OFFSHOOT OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, A MOVEMENT DEDICATED TO PROMOTING EXTREMISM WORLDWIDE. THEIR GOALS ARE OUTLINED IN THEIR FOUNDING CHARTER, WHICH CALLS FOR THE OBLITERATION OF ISRAEL AND ITS OPENING PARAGRAPHS. IT ALSO CALLS FOR THE KILLING OF ALL JEWS WORLDWIDE. HAMAS OFFICIALS HAVE SHARED STATEMENTS LIKE WE MUST ATTACK EVERY JEW ON PLANET EARTH. WE MUST SLAUGHTER AND KILL THEM. FADI HAMAD, SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIAL OCTOBER 7TH PAVED A WIDE HIGHWAY TOWARDS THE REMOVAL OF ISRAEL HAMAS LEADER, HALED MICAL. THE OCTOBER 7TH MASSACRE IS JUST THE FIRST TIME AND THERE WILL BE A SECOND, A THIRD AND A FOURTH BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DETERMINATION, THE RESOLVE, AND THE CAPABILITIES TO FIGHT. GAZI, HAMAD, HAMAS OFFICIAL. IT HURTS MY HEART AND MY COMMUNITY TO HEAR HOUSTONIANS SUPPORTING THIS RHETORIC AND SAYING THEY ARE PRO HAMAS. TO SUPPORT THIS TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS TO SUPPORT THE CALLING FOR THE DEATH OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. RACHEL LEVY. RACHEL LEVY. ON OCTOBER 13TH, HAMAS LEADER, KHALID MICHEL CALLED FOR THOSE IN COUNTRIES SURROUNDING ISRAEL TO JOIN IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT TO DESTROY ISRAEL, CALLING FOR GLOBAL JIHAD OR GLOBAL KILLING OF JEWS, JEWISH COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING HERE IN HOUSTON. PANICKED PARENTS KEPT THEIR KIDS HOME FROM SCHOOL. WE HAD ARMED OFFICERS AT THE DOORS OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND THE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS REAL AND PALPABLE. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE FBI ARRESTED A MAN IN HOUSTON WHO HAD BEEN RESEARCHING BUILDING BOMBS AND KILLING JEWS. A KOSHER RESTAURANT WAS BROKEN INTO A PRO-ISRAEL BILLBOARD WAS RIPPED TO SHRED AND A RABBI IN THIS CHAMBER WAS BOOED AND DISRESPECTED. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL AND COORDINATED IN PROVIDING SUPPORT OF OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDES 5,000 ISRAELIS, BUT WE HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THIS WAR ON US. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, AARON COLEMANS. AARON COLEMANS. AARON IS HERE FOR JEWS. THERE'S BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH THERE AFTER WE FEEL INCREDIBLY SCARED AND VULNERABLE. SINCE HAMAS' ATTACK, ANTISEMITISM HAS SPIKED AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING HERE IN HOUSTON. THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE HAS RECORDED OVER 2000 ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS NATIONALLY SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, A 337% [01:45:02] INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS INCLUDES OVER 40 INCIDENTS OF PHYSICAL ASSAULT. IT'S SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT THIS INCREASE IN ANTISEMITISM STARTED BEFORE ISRAEL EVER INVADED GAZA. ISRAEL WAS RUTHLESSLY ATTACKED ON OCTOBER 7TH. MOST PEOPLE EXPRESSED COMPASSION, BUT INEXPLICABLY A SIZABLE GROUP BECAME HOSTILE. THAT'S ANTISEMITISM. ACCORDING TO THE STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE FBI, THE ONGOING TENSIONS ELEVATE THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE TO PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND FAITH-BASED EVENTS. THEY PARTICULARLY NOTE A SPIKE IN ANTI-JEWISH BIAS IN RELATION TO THE CONFLICT AND ASSESS THAT THIS INCREASE LIKELY COULD CALL TO FURTHER VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWISH GATHERINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDY SONEN. RANDY SONEN IS HERE. THANK YOU. LAST FRIDAY, DENMARK ARRESTED TWO INDIVIDUALS AND IS INVESTIGATING FOUR OTHERS FOR PLOTTING A TERROR ATTACK AGAINST JEWS. THESE ARRESTS COINCIDED WITH ONE SUSPECT ARRESTED IN THE NETHERLANDS AND SEVERAL IN GERMANY WITH KNOWN TIES TO HAMAS. AFTER THE HOLOCAUST, THE GLOBAL JEWISH COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND DECLARED NEVER AGAIN. SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, OUR COMMUNITY IS CRYING OUT, NEVER AGAIN IS NOW. WE CANNOT ASSUME THAT A CONFLICT SO FAR AWAY DOES NOT HAVE FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING HERE IN THE US AND IN HOUSTON. WE RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE EFFORTS OF THIS CITY, COUNCIL, MAYOR, MAYOR TURNER, AND ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE DENOUNCE ANTISEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA. SUPPORT ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN COMING TOGETHER IN DIALOGUE AND STAND UP AGAINST HATE IN ANY OF ITS FORMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, TALI COMMONS. TALI COMMONS. TALI IS HERE. I AM A JEWISH STUDENT FROM HOUSTON ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS IN NEW YORK. THE CAMPUS I CALL HOME HAS MANY ACTIVE JEWISH GROUPS, BUT OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT SINCE OCTOBER 7TH. THERE HAVE BEEN RALLIES AGAINST US AND PROTESTS THAT MADE US FEEL UNSAFE. THERE WAS A SCHEDULED WALKOUT ONE DAY THAT QUICKLY TURNED INTO A RAUCOUS CROWD I RECEIVED. I RECEIVED AN ALERT TO STAY IN MY DORM OR REMAIN WHEREVER I WAS ON CAMPUS. THE TEXT MESSAGES THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY FRIENDS AT SCHOOL AND FROM MY FAMILY SO FAR AWAY WERE HARROWING IN A WORLD WHERE PRESIDENTS OF THREE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN AMERICA REFUSE TO CONDEMN ANTISEMITISM OR EVEN CONFIRM THAT CALLING FOR GENOCIDE OF JEWS WOULD CONSTITUTE BULLYING OR HARASSMENT ON THEIR CAMPUSES. MY FRIENDS AND I ARE LEFT WITH ONE QUESTION. IS IT SAFE TO BE OPENLY JEWISH? NEXT SPEAKER, RENEE WI BARRIOS. RENEE WI BARRIOS. RENEE IS HERE. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW HOUSTON'S JEWISH COMMUNITY IS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE AS HOUSTON IS ITSELF. MORE THAN 60,000 JEWS CALL HOUSTON HOME. SINCE THE ATTACKS ON OCTOBER 7TH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY THE WAR. OUR WORK PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN AID INCLUDING BASIC NEEDS, HOUSING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, TRAUMA RELIEF, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE, INCLUDING SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE HAVE SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY FOR CIVILIAN LIVES LOST IN RESPONSE TO THE BARBARIC ATTACK. IT IS HEART WRENCHING TO WATCH THE ENORMOUS PAIN AND LOSS ON BOTH SIDES. AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE HURTING DEEPLY, BUT WE ARE NOT HIDING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE OUR RELIGION FREELY. WE WILL STAND AGAINST ANTISEMITISM IN ISLAMOPHOBIA AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES STILL BEING HELD IN GAZA. WE WILL SHARE THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH AND ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHT OF THE EXISTENCE OF ISRAEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ERICA WINDOR. ERICA WINDOR. ERICA IS HERE. WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD, I TRAVELED TO POLAND AND VISITED THE WARSAW GHETTO SCHINDLER'S FACTORY AND MOST MEMORABLY, THE CONCENTRATION CAMP AUSCHWITZ, A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TRAVELED WITH MY GROUP AS WE ENTERED ONE OF THE BARRACKS IN THE CAMP. SHE WALKED TO A PARTICULAR BUNK AND SAT DOWN ON THE EDGE OF A TINY NARROW BED. WE ALL GATHERED CLOSE AS SHE RETOLD THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, NOT JUST IN THAT CAMP, BUT RIGHT THERE IN THAT BED. SHE SPARED NO DETAIL OF THE HORRORS SHE ENDURED. AND IN THOSE DIFFICULT MOMENTS, I BECAME A WITNESS TO HER STORY. SHE HAS LONG SINCE PASSED, BUT HER STORY [01:50:01] LIVES ON THROUGH EACH OF US WHO HEARD IT FROM HER FIRSTHAND. WE KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT ISSUE RESOLUTIONS OR WAIT INTO MATTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BUT WE HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO BEAR WITNESS WITH US. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH AND TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED AND THE DAYS THAT ARE COMING, YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT US WITH YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR WORDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, YIT BAR Y BARR YIT IS HERE. HELLO, I AM ISRAELI WHO LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON. EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FOR THE LAST 12 MINUTES SPEAKS TO MY LIFE. I'M A MOTHER WHO'S AFRAID TO SEND MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. I'M A PRESCHOOL TEACHER IN A JEWISH DAY SCHOOL THAT I'M A FEAR FOR THIS FUTURE OF MY STUDENT. I AM A SISTER OF AN RETIRED IDF LEON BARR, WHO FIND HIS DEATH IN OCTOBER 8TH. A DAY AFTER EVERYTHING STARTED, MY BROTHER RUSH TO THE SOUTH TOGETHER WITH HIS SON TO HELP ATTEMPT TO HELP TO TRANSFER DEAD BODIES TO A SAFE PLACE AND INJURED PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. MY BROTHER DIED, SAVING HIS COUNTRY AND PROTECTING HIS SON. AND TODAY I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER HIM. I'M A ESTONIAN, I'M ISRAELI. I'M ALSO MORE THAN A STATISTIC. I'M MORE THAN A FACEBOOK STORY. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, OZON AHMED OZON. AHMED OZON IS HERE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TODAY. I'M GONNA START WITH A QUOTE FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FROM 19 19 67 ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR. I OPPOSE THE WAR BECAUSE I LOVE AMERICA. I SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT NOT IN ANGER, BUT WITH ANXIETY AND SORROW IN MY HEART AND ABOVE ALL, WITH A COMPASSION, WITH A PASSIONATE DESIRE TO SEE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY STAND AS A MORAL EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD. I MIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY AT THE AGE OF 18 AND BELIEVE, BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE VALUES OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND I BELIEVE THIS WHOLE WAR GOES AGAINST WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR. I SEE OUR GOVERNMENT'S, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL SUPPORTING AND FUNDING THE STATE OF ISRAEL AS IT COMMITS WAR CRIMES. WE SEE EVERY DAY 25,000 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, 10,000 OF THEM CHILDREN. AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. THE THE CONDITIONS IN GAZA ARE APOCALYPTIC. THERE'S NO FOOD, NO NO WATER. CHILDREN ARE DYING OF STARVATION AND THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING CONTINUES. I WANT TO SAY NOT WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. PLEASE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER ELLIOT LGE. ELLIOT LGE ELLIOT ELLIOT OH U IS HERE. HELLO. UM, AS PER TODAY, UH, EXCEPT ONE OF YOU, ALL OF YOU HAVE NOT RELEASED ANY STATEMENT OR RESPONSE TO THE ANSWER, IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND GAZA. AND I'M HERE TO REMIND THAT IT IS YOUR MORAL DUTY TO DO SO. YOU SHOULD NOT DODGE THIS RESPONSIBILITY BY FALLACIOUSLY EQUATING CONDEMNATION OF A STATE'S CRIMINAL OBLIGATORY ACTION TO ANTISEMITISM. YOU SHOULD NOT DODGE THIS RESPONSIBILITY SAYING IT'S OUTSIDE OF YOUR JURISDICTION BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT SOLACE GEARS OF A BUREAUCRATIC MACHINE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU SHOULD BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS AND YOU ARE ABLE TO TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG TRUTH FROM LIE. AND YOU CANNOT TURN YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE SUFFERINGS AND MURDER OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT THEIR TAX MONEY IS USED TO FINANCE, UH, GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED WAR CRIMES AND CORRECTLY ADDRESS OCCUPATION AND GENOCIDE AS THEY ARE. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, TRAVIS ALI. TRAVIS IS HERE. HELLO, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ALI, AND THROUGHOUT THIS MINUTE GIVEN TO ME, I WOULD KINDLY ASK ALL OF YOU TO NOT LOOK AT ME, BUT TO LOOK AT A CLOCK OR AT A WATCH THAT'S MAY BE ON YOUR WRIST. STATISTICALLY, EVERY 10 SECONDS A CHILD AND GAZA WILL DIE, WHICH MEANS DURING THE STATEMENT THAT I JUST MADE 1.6 CHILDREN IN GODS [01:55:01] HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED BY THE UNJUST DOINGS OF THE IDF. I'M HERE STANDING AMONGST YOU ALL AND I CAN SEE WHERE YOUR EYES ARE LOOKING. THEREFORE, I CAN SEE WHERE YOUR HEART LIES. WE HAVE PROTESTED AND WE HAVE MARCHED AND WE HAVE BEGGED FOR A CEASEFIRE. AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE. I'VE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOCK. YOU WOULD'VE NOTICED IF YOU WERE LOOKING THAT ANOTHER 13 SECONDS HAS GONE BY MEANING 1.3 INNOCENT CHILDREN HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN MURDERED SYLVESTER TURNER. TWO YEARS AGO I MET YOU AT AN EVENT AT THE WAR HOUSE HOSTED BY COUTURE. YOU SHOOK MY HAND AS WE SPOKE AND YOU TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL MAN IF I CONTINUE TO CARRY MY SMILE. WILL MY SMILE? WILL MY SMILE MATTER NOW THAT I'M PALESTINIAN? HOW CAN I SMILE STATISTICALLY, WE JUST LOST ANOTHER 1.7 CHILDREN IN THE LAST 17 SECONDS. HOW CAN I SMILE? KNOWING YOU ALL WILL BE SPENDING YOUR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, UNWRAPPING CHRISTMAS GIFTS UNDER A TREE WHILE INNOCENT PARENTS AND GZA ARE BEARING THEIR CHILDREN UNDER BOMBS THAT COULD BE PREVENTED BY CALLING A CEASEFIRE. AS I RESPECTFULLY BOWED MY HEAD DURING PRAYER, I WOULD GLADLY ASK IF SOMEONE MAY YIELD THEIR TIME TO MAKE ONE OF MY OWN. DO YOU HAVE MY MINUTE? I'M SORRY. THANK YOUJ. IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE, MOST MERCIFUL AND MASTER OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. YOU ALONE WE WORSHIP AND YOU ALONE ASK FOR HELP. THE PATH OF THOSE YOU HAVE BLESSED NOT THE ONES THAT YOU ARE DISPLEASED WITH IS THOSE WHO ASTRAY. THAT IS A VERSE FROM THE QURAN, FROM THE OPENING FROM A MUSLIM QURAN, NOT AN ISLAMIC QURAN MUSLIM. THANK YOU. SPEAKER FAJA. SADIK FAHAN SADIK FAHAN IS HERE. I'M HERE TODAY NOT AS A HOUSTONIAN AMERICAN, PAKISTANI OR MUSLIM, BUT AS A HUMAN BEING TO APPEAL TO YOUR MORALITY, YOUR SENSE OF DECENCY AND HUMANITY TO PLEAD FOR THE INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS COUNTRY'S FOUNDERS IDENTIFIED FOR ALL THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THE INFRINGEMENT OF THESE RIGHTS FOR ANY HUMAN SHOULD BE SPOKEN AGAINST. AND THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. THESE RIGHTS ARE BEING STIFLED FOR THE MILLIONS OF HUMANS IN PALESTINE TODAY AS THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST 75 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL. WE DO NOT SPEAK AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE A RELIGION OR RACE, BUT AGAINST THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THEIR ARMY, AND UH, THE ABSOLUTELY VILE ACTIONS AND CALLOUS CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. WE SPEAK FOR PALESTINE AND THE BELIEF THAT OVER 25, INNOCENT 25,000 IN INNOCENT CIVILIANS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN KILLED. THOSE WHO SURVIVE SHOULD NOT BE MAIMED, DISPLACED, STARVED, AND TRAUMATIZED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS ATROCITY AND ADD YOUR VOICE TO EVERY HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, EVERY UNION YOUR TIME HAS FIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, AMANI NAZER. AMANI NASSER. AMANI IS HERE. YES, HELLO. I SPEAK TO YOU AS A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN AND AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE HOUSTON AREA. WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS THE SCHOOL, THE CLASSROOMS ARE EMPTY WITH NOTHING IN THEM BESIDES DESKS AND EMPTY WALLS. TEACHERS HAVE TO BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS, THINGS LIKE TISSUES, PENCILS, ANYTHING REALLY THAT GOES IN THE CLASSROOM. SO IS IT NOT SHAMEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON GIVES OVER $32 MILLION TOWARDS THE ISRAELI MILITARY? WE SHOULD BE FUNDING EDUCATION, NOT A GENOCIDE. IN HISD, MIKE MILES IS TURNING LIBRARIES INTO DISCIPLINE CENTERS. WE SHOULD BE FUNDING BOOKS NOT BOMBS. IN MY, IN MY CLASSROOM. MY STUDENTS RECENTLY LEARNED THAT TEXAS IS THIRD IN THE NATION FOR FOOD INSECURITY. SO WHY ARE WE FUNDING A RACIST TERROR STATE WHEN WE FAIL TO PROVIDE THAT FOR, UH, WHEN WE FAIL TO PROVIDE FOOD AND HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION FOR OUR OWN CONSTITUENTS? AND THE CEASEFIRE NOW FREE PALESTINE HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HEY, SUE SANCHEZ, SUE SANCHEZ. AS A PERSON OF MEXICAN AND SALVADOR AND HERITAGE, I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE RESISTING THE OCCUPATION OF THE SETTLER SETTLER ZIONIST FORCE FOR OVER 75 YEARS AS SOMEONE WHOSE RELATIVES FACE VIOLENCE AND WERE FORCEFULLY DISAPPEARED DURING THE CIVIL WAR EL SALVADOR, I KNOW THE BRUTALITY [02:00:01] OF THE MILITARY AND FAR RIGHT DEAD SQUADS OF EL SALVADOR AND THE REST OF LATIN AMERICA WHO ARE TRAINED AND ARMED BY THE APARTHEID ISRAELI STATE ISRAEL PORTS THEIR VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD, TRAINING AN ARMY MILITARIES WITH A LACK OF REGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND THE FASCIST LATIN AMERICAN REGIMES BROUGHT SCORED SHARED CAMPAIGNS TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SALVADORIANS MURDERED IN EVENTS SUCH AS MOST ELMO SOTE IN 1981, AS WELL AS THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE GENOCIDE OF THE INDIGENOUS MAYAN PEOPLE IN GUATEMALA DURING THEIR OWN BRUTAL DECADES LONG CIVIL WAR. THAT'S WHY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY HOUSTON COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL SHOULD SPEAK UP AND DEMAND A PERMANENT AND IMMEDIACY FIRED. NOW WE'LL SEE A FREE PALESTINE WHILE WE ARE ALIVE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. NEXT SPEAKER, OLA RANEZ. OLA RAMIREZ. MAYOR TURNER. WHEN YOU VISITED ISRAEL IN 2017, THE STATE BRANDED AS THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. YOUR TOUR INTENTIONALLY DID NOT INCLUDE BEHIND THE WALLS IN TE GAZA OR THE WEST BANK OR TO PRISONS WHERE CHILDREN ARE HELD CAPTIVE WITH NO CHARGE. YOU DID NOT SEE THE APARTHEID STATE FOR WHAT IT IS. IN THE LAST 73 DAYS, THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL HAS SHOWN HOW IMMORAL AND DEPRAVED THEY ARE BY MURDERING 20,000 PALESTINIANS, INCLUDING SHOOTING BABIES AT POINT BLANK RANGE. I DO NOT. FOR ONE SECOND, BELIEVE THAT YOU AS THE MAYOR OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY ARE POWERLESS TO ACT AS YOU DID ISSUE A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE, AKRON, ATLANTA, DETROIT, OAKLAND, AND MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY DONE THE RIGHT THING AND CALLED FOR A CEASEFIRE. HOUSTON HAS THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION OF PALESTINIANS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND RIGHT NOW YOUR LEGACY WILL BE ONE OF INDIFFERENCE TOWARD THEIR SUFFERING. I HOPE YOU ALSO DO THE RIGHT THING AND USE YOUR POWER TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. AS NELSON MANDELA SAID, WE KNOW TOO WELL THAT OUR FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE FREEDOM OF THE PALESTINIANS. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, EVERY TIME I'VE GONE TO ISRAEL, I'VE GONE TO AND VISIT THE PLO. I'M SORRY. UH, EVERY TIME I'VE GONE TO ISRAEL, I'VE VISITED WITH PEOPLE FROM PALESTINE. SO THE PLO IS MORE IN WEST BANK. HAVE YOU BEEN TO GAZA? IT'S MY TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NOBODY WAS WITH ME WHEN I SPOKE ON SATURDAY NIGHT. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE WITH ME WHEN I SPOKE. NOT ONE TO THE ARABS AND THE MUSLIMS. NOT ONE. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU ALL DO NOT KNOW WHAT I'M DOING OR SAYING OR WHERE I'VE BEEN. YOU WERE NOT WITH ME SATURDAY NIGHT AT ALL. NOT WHAT I LISTENED TO YOU. GIVE ME THE SAME RESPECT. NEXT SPEAKER. ALINA GANI. ALINA GANI. WE GOOD TO GO. HELLO. I WAS BORN HERE AND RAISED IN HOUSTON AND I'M 16 YEARS OLD. FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS NOW, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO LOOK AND PRAY LIKE ME, RUTHLESSLY BOMBED, SHOT AND STARVED, BUT OUR COUNTRY IS NOT STOPPED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO THE USE OF DEHUMANIZING RHETORIC TOWARDS ARAB AND MUSLIMS AS A WHOLE FOR DECADES TO VIEW PALESTINIANS AS TO QUOTE THE ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER. HUMAN ANIMALS EVEN IN THE US PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SHOT AND STABBED IN HORRIFYING HATE CRIMES WITHOUT ANY STOPPING IT. I'M ASKING TODAY TO REJECT THIS CONDITIONING. LOOK AT THE THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED AS HUMAN BEINGS, HUMANS WHO LOOK AND PRAY LIKE SO MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. I BEG CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TURNER TO SEND A LETTER TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO URGE 'EM TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. ACT IN THE ENTRANCE OF YOUR CONSI OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND SHOW US THAT OUR LIVES MATTER OUR LIVES AS MUSLIMS AND PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT LOOK LIKE WHITE PEOPLE, BUT HOW OUR LIVES MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ELLY MONTOYA. REVIS ILI MONTOYA. REVIS. I DON'T SEE ELY TODAY. OKAY, WE'RE PERIA LATIF. PERIA LATIF PERIA. PERIA. PERIA IS HERE. MY NAME'S PERIA LATIF. I'M A PHYSICIAN HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL FOR PATIENTLY LISTENING TO ALL OF US SPEAK AND EXPRESS OURSELVES. THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN MORE VOCAL, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN PRETTY QUIET IN OUR EXPRESSION. I APOLOGIZE ON ANYONE'S BEHALF. IF WE HAVE BEEN TOO LOUD OR TOO DEMANDING, PLEASE PARDON US. WE ARE HURTING. WE ALL ARE HURTING A LOT AND WE'VE BEEN HURTING FOR THE PAST 2.5 MONTHS. WE ARE TRYING TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE TODAY. I SPEAK NOT ONLY FOR THE FAMILIES IN PALESTINE, WE'RE BEING SUBJECT TO THE WORST ACTS OF BRUTALITY THAT THIS CENTURY [02:05:01] HAS SEEN. I ALSO SPEAK FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES WHO HAVE BEEN DESPERATELY WAITING FOR SOME GOOD NEWS AND DESPERATELY WAITING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES TO COME BACK. I ALSO SPEAK FOR THE POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE WEST BANK WHO ARE BEING TRIED WITHOUT ANY CHARGES. UM, EVERYBODY'S VOICES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED BY THOSE IN POWER. UM, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAYOR AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT PASS RESOLUTIONS, HAVE MORE TIME. COUNCILMAN POLL. YOU HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. UM, WHILE OUR, OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED BY THOSE IN POWER AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT PASS A RESOLUTION, BUT WE CAN CONDEMN THE GENOCIDE AND THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU SUPPORT AND JOIN US IN OUR ASK FOR A SUSTAINED CEASE FIRE. AND GAZA, PLEASE, MAYOR TURNER. UM, SPEAK TO CONGRESS ON OUR BEHALF. PLEASE. YOU HAVE SERVED HOUSTON TIRELESSLY DURING YOUR TENURE. PLEASE SHOW US YOU CARE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS. LOOK AT THIS PACT HALL. WE ARE ALL HERE WITH ONLY ONE REQUEST. WE WILL REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU OR WILL YOU REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT WHO CONTINUES TO FUND THE GENOCIDE. AND, UM, IF THE CITY OF HOUSTON CALLS FOR A SUSTAINED CEASEFIRE AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND POLITICAL PRISONERS HELD WITHOUT CHARGE, IT WILL SEND A STRONG MESSAGE OF HOPE AND PEACE, NOT ONLY TO AMERICA, BUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD. COUNCILMAN MAG GHOST, COUNCILMAN MAG. GHOST THA THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP AND, AND IDENTIFYING THE INJUSTICES IN THE HORRORS FROM BOTH SIDES. UM, THIS IS MY LAST PUBLIC SESSION. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS. I'VE DONE MY BEST TO REPRESENT EVERYONE AND DO THE RIGHT THING. I KNOW THAT THIS MONDAY AS A CHRISTIAN, WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WHO IS BORN IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. AND FOR THAT REASON, AS YOU STATED, NEARLY 20,000 INDIVIDUALS, INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS, MANY INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES BY THESE BOMBINGS. SO THEREFORE I WILL TOO. JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER IN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN I GIVE OUT ONE SECOND? WILL I BE ALLOWED TO GIVE OUT HOLIDAY? YOU CAN PASS IT TO RENEE, PLEASE. OKAY, I WILL. I WILL BE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WILL HILL IS HERE. THE END NEXT SPEAKER. FATIMA. FATIMA. HACK FATIMA. HACK FATIMA IS HERE. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH. UM, LAST WEEK I CAME TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP AS I FELT DEFEATED AS AN AMERICAN MUSLIM. TODAY I COME HOPEFUL. I WENT TO THE VALARA CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY AND CAME BACK FEELING HOPEFUL THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER AND BRIDGE OUR DIFFERENCES. I WENT TO SUPPORT MY FRIENDS. UM, WE DECIDED AS A COUNCIL, AS A CITY, AS JEWISH NEIGHBORS, MUSLIM NEIGHBORS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORS, HISPANIC NEIGHBORS, THAT WE WERE NOT AS A CITY OF BEL AIR GONNA ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME CHICAGO. WHERE A 6-YEAR-OLD BOY IS KILLED, UM, BY HUGGING HIS LANDLORD, WE'RE NOT GONNA BECOME THE NEXT BURLINGTON WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN FROM BEING PALESTINIAN. THAT PEACEFUL, UM, COMING TOGETHER WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY LEADERSHIP. IT WAS THE MAYOR, IT WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. THEY TREATED US LIKE HUMAN BEINGS. THEY TREATED US AND RESPECTED US AND GAVE US LOVE. THEY DIDN'T ASK US TO CONDEMN TERRORISM. THEY KNEW THAT WE CAME FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND PEACE. I SORRY. CAN SOMEONE YIELD THEIR TIME? TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN SOMEONE YIELD THEIR TIME? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. EDUARDO DORAN. DORAN EDO DORAN DUO. MS. EDUARDO. NEXT SPEAKER. JACKIE CARPENTER. JACKIE CARPENTER. JACKIE. JACKIE. NEXT SPEAKER ANUSHA. S ANUSHA. SADIKI. ANUSHA IS HERE WE ARE BACK AGAIN THIS WEEK TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON STANDS IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. LAST WEEK WHEN WE CAME, IT WAS DAY 66. NOW IT'S DAY 73. 73 DAYS OF THE BOMBING OF CHILDREN, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, [02:10:01] EVERYTHING. UM, THE BOMBS THAT A MASSACRING FAMILIES IN GAZA ARE US, MADE US FUNDED. YOU HEAR US INSIDE, IN THE US OUTSIDE, WE REFUSE TO SIT IDLY BY HIS ENTIRE BLOODLINES ARE WIPED OUT IN OUR NAME. WITH OUR MONEY, HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO RELEASE A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. SYLVESTER TURNER, THIS IS YOUR LAST SESSION. WE WANNA SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY. YOU ARE ASHAMED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOU DO NOT REPRESENT US. WE WON'T STOP AND WE WON'T REST UNTIL A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS CALLED THE SEIZURES ENDED AND PALESTINE IS FREE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. CLAUDIA OBE. CLAUDIA OBIE. CLAUDIA. NEXT SPEAKER. SARAH ALDOUS. SARAH DERMO. SARAH IS HERE. MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF INACTION. WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF INACTION. WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF LISTENING AND LEARNING. WE ARE DEMANDING ACTION AMIDST THE BOMBING OF PALESTINIAN HOMES AND HOSPITALS. YOU CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL. NOW AS WE HAVE WITNESSED OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS MURDERED BY US BOMBS. WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION TO WHAT? OVER 800 SCHOLARS OF GENOCIDE AND I AS A PALESTINIAN WHO HAS FAMILY AND FRIENDS STARVING TO DEATH IF THEY'RE NOT BOMBED BY ISRAEL, IS CALLING A GENOCIDE. YOU SAY NO ONE WAS THERE WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THE ARAB COMMUNITY, BUT WE WERE, AND WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU TO TURN YOUR WORDS INTO TANGIBLE ACTION. YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. WHY IS A GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AN EXCEPTION FOR YOU? SO THE RESTER TURNER, I AND THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER HAVE ONLY ONE QUESTION. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR YOU TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE? AND I'D APPRECIATE A RESPONSE. THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENT. WHAT A SHAME YOU ARE. DISGRACING. YOU ARE A COWARD. AND THAT WON'T GET YOU ANY, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. THAT WON'T GET YOU ANYWHERE WITH ME. I, I I I LISTEN TO YOU ONE THING TOGETHER. CONTINUE AND YOU WILL LEAVE NEXT SPEAKER. SAVE. K. SO KAS, THE STRUGGLE FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION CARRIES WITH IT ECHOES OF STRUGGLES FOR LIBERATION THROUGHOUT HISTORY, INCLUDING STRUGGLES FROM OUR COUNTRY AND OUR HISTORY. AND THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THAT ARE CHANTING THE PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER THAT HAVE BEEN PROTESTING, THAT HAVE BEEN RAISING THEIR VOICES. WE TAKE AS INSPIRATION THOSE HEROES OF THOSE STRUGGLES IN, IN, IN OUR OWN COUNTRY'S HISTORY. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I WANNA SHARE THE WORDS OF ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND THE WORDS THAT HE SAID, UH, THAT HE SAID ABOUT DISRUPTION THAT HE SAID ABOUT DISSENT. DR. KING SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A TRAFFIC LAW, WHICH SAYS YOU HAVE TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT. BUT WHEN A FIRE IS RAGING, THE FIRE TRUCK GOES RIGHT THROUGH THAT RED LIGHT AND NORMAL TRAFFIC HAD BETTER GET OUT OF ITS WAY. OR WHEN A MAN IS BLEEDING TO DEATH, THE AMBULANCE GOES RIGHT THROUGH THOSE RED LIGHTS AT TOP SPEED, THERE IS A FIRE RAGING. NOW DISINHERITED, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE BLEEDING TO DEATH. THEY NEED BRIGADES OF AMBULANCE DRIVERS WHO WILL HAVE TO IGNORE THE RED LIGHTS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM UNTIL THE EMERGENCY IS SOLVED. THAT IS OUR INSPIRATION. THAT IS OUR CALL FOR YOU ALL TO WAKE UP. WAKE UP YOUR MORAL CONSCIENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT BAKER MADHA. K MAD KHAN. MADIA K IS HERE. IT TOOK MY FATHER MONTHS TO GET A VISA TO COME TO AMERICA. IT TOOK HIM YEARS TO GET A CITIZENSHIP SO HE COULD GIVE ME AND MY SIBLINGS THE LIFE HE DIDN'T HAVE. THAT WAS MY FATHER'S DREAM. WE GREW UP PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE AS PALESTINIANS. AND I HOPE TO HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE FACT I'M AN AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM HOUSTON. BUT HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WHEN WITH PRIDE, WHEN THAT SAME GOVERNMENT SENDS FUNDS TO DESTROY MY HOME, TO DESTROY MY FAMILY, TO DEMOLISH THE THINGS THAT I CARE ABOUT, THE THINGS THAT I SAW NO MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, THE IDF HAS BEEN RAIDING THE STREETS OF THE WEST BANK. I CAN ONLY ASK YOU TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE YOU ARE NOT SAFE IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY, CITY, NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR OWN HOME. BUT FOR PALESTINIANS, THIS IS OUR REALITY. I'M WATCHING MY FAMILY MEMBERS GET HURT, SHOT, KILLED, AND IMPRISONED FOR NO REASON, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE PALESTINIAN. I ASK YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVE NO POWER WHEN IT COMES TO RESOLUTIONS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. [02:15:01] CAN YOU YIELD? I'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS, 30 SECONDS. I ASK YOU, YOU SAID YOU HAVE NO POWER WHEN IT COMES TO RESOLUTIONS, BUT IN REALITY IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO POWER. I WANT YOU TO PICTURE THE THINGS YOU VALUE MOST GETTING RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS GETTING HURT, GETTING KILLED. I WANT YOU TO PICTURE THAT AND TELL ME HOW HELPLESS YOU'D FEEL AND HOW MUCH YOU'D WANT TO STOP THEM. HOW MUCH YOU WOULD WANT TO STOP THE PEOPLE DOING THIS TO YOUR FAMILY. SO I ASK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME POWER TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. THESE FLOWERS, THEY LITTER MY COUNTRY JUST LIKE US. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, MIRIAM HAM. MIM HAM MADE IT IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT MIKE. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS FOR CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT WORKING AT ONE OF THE LIBRARIES IN HOUSTON. WHILE I WAS THERE, I HAD THE HONOR OF HELPING CREATIVITY SPARK TO SEE CURIOSITY FLOURISH AND OBSERVE CHILDREN LEARN EMPATHY AND ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER. I'VE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE GAIN SECOND CHANCES THROUGH CITIZENSHIP AND GAINING GEDS AND HAVING HOPE THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE SOMETHING WHEN EVERYONE ELSE TOLD THEM THEY COULDN'T. AND THIS IS A BACKBONE OF THE DIVERSITY AND INNOVATION OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THIS IS WHAT I LOVE. I WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE LIBRARIANS THAT WORK SO HARD TO FACILITATE THESE WONDERS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR OWN CITY. THEY ARE UNDERPAID. LIBRARIES IN GEN GENERAL ARE UNDERFUNDED, WHICH IS A SHAME WHEN OUR OWN TEXAS LITERACY RATE IS AT 70%. WE SHOULD BE FUNDING OUR LIBRARIES, BUT INSTEAD OUR MONEY IS USED TO BOMB LIBRARIES AND UNIVERSITIES. UNIVERSITIES IN GAZA. OUR MONEY IS ERA HISTORY AND KILLING THE MINDS THAT HAVE BROUGHT SO MUCH TO OUR WORLD. YOU WANT PEACE. YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORY INSPIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, HANNAH THALBERG. HANNAH THALBERG, LINBERG HANNAH IS HERE. I COME TO YOU AS A JEW AND DISTRICT. I RESIDENT ON DAY 74 OF THE ONGOING UNJUSTIFIABLE GENOCIDE BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND GAZA, FUNDED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING. UP FOR US FOR A CEASEFIRE. YOU'LL NO LONGER REPRESENT ME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALSO WON'T REPRESENT INDIFFERENCE TO HUMAN SUFFERING. I'M ADDRESSING ANYONE WHO'S EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE CHILDREN OF GAZE. ONLY WHEN A SPEAKER SAID THE MAGIC WORDS OF NOT SUPPORTING HAMAS, THIS REQUIREMENT THAT VICTIMS PERFORM THEIR BLAMELESSNESS IN ORDER TO HAVE LIVES WORTH SAVING IS DEHUMANIZING. OUR VOICES SHOULDN'T EVEN BE NECESSARY. HERE ON NOVEMBER 7TH, PALESTINIAN CHILDREN THEMSELVES PUT ON A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF SHIP, A HOSPITAL SPEAKING IN OUR LANGUAGE, NOT THEIRS, INVITING US TO PROTECT THEM. THERE IS LITTLE POINT IN DENOUNCING VIOLENCE WHILE FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ABSENCE OF A HORIZON OF PEACEFUL RECONCILIATION INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ARMED RESISTANCE. AN ISRAELI JEWISH COMRADE TAUGHT ME THAT IT IS NOT OUR PLACE TO TELL A PEOPLE HOW TO RESIST THEIR COLONIZATION. MAY I HAVE 30 MORE SECONDS. TIME HAS FIRE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU DIDN'T HAVE MY TIME. THANK YOU. BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE VIABLE, WHICH PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN SHOWING US HOW TO DO A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE WOULD BE A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. SO CEASE FIRE NOW BECAUSE SAFETY AND LIBERATION IS FOR ALL OF US OR NONE OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ANSIA JI ANSIA JI ANSIA IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I DO WANNA START OUT BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS THAT YOU HAVE DONE. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO SPEAK OUT, AND IT'S NOT EASY TO PUT YOURSELF ON A PLATFORM TO FACE CRITICISM AND ON A LARGE SCALE, BUT AS THE COUNCIL FOR THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION AND HAVING THE SECOND LARGEST PALESTINIAN POPULATION, YOU BEAR THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I QUESTION WHY THERE ARE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS SUPPORTING THE PALESTINIAN PLIGHT, BUT THEN THE CALL FOR SUPPORT IN ISRAEL AND UKRAINE ARE MADE PUBLIC. THAT'S HARD FOR US TO HEAR BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SUPPORT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, MIGHT BUTCHER HIS NAME. GLENN HAGAR SAID THAT TEXAS INVESTED $20 MILLION TWO MONTHS AGO INTO ISRAEL TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY NEEDED TO RESPONDED TO THE ATROCITIES WE'VE ALL WITNESSED. IN WHAT WORLD IS THIS A PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE? PLEASE TELL ME. DO HIS WORDS REPRESENT THE STATE OF TEXAS? AND THEY DO. DO THEY REPRESENT YOU? BECAUSE THEY DON'T REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS IN ANY WAY. HE THEN CLAIMED THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A RELIABLE RETURN FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS. WHERE, WHAT RETURN ARE WE SEEING WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS? THEY'VE INVESTED IN DESTROYING ANOTHER CITY AND SAID, WE'RE BUILDING OUR OWN. THANK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. [02:20:01] NICK COOPER. NICK COOPER. NICK IS HERE. I HEARD SPEAKERS TODAY THAT, UM, BELIEVE THAT MORE BOMBING OF CIVILIANS WILL MAKE THEM SAFER, BUT BOMBING OF CIVILIANS DOES THE OPPOSITE AND PUTS US ALL AT RISK. AS A KID GROWING UP IN NEW YORK, MY JEWISH GRANDFATHER WAS CHASED AND BEATEN UP FOR BEING JEWISH AS A STUDENT IN BOSTON. MY MOTHER WAS HARASSED AND PUNISHED BY A RACIST PROFESSOR, BUT IN MY LIFETIME, I'VE NEVER HAD ANYONE EVEN CALL ME A DEROGATORY NAME. I KNOW THAT RACISM AGAINST JEWISH PEOPLE EXISTS, AND THE KU KLUX KLAN THINKS THAT WE'RE THE SPAWN OF SATAN. BUT YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY THINK THE SAME THING ABOUT PALESTINIANS. WHEN I SEE PEOPLE CALLING ANYONE WHO'S DEMANDING AN END TO BOMBING ANTI-SEMITIC, IT MAKES ME REALLY ANGRY. IT'S, I'M AGAINST THE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF CIVILIANS, AREN'T Y'ALL? IF ANY OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS UP THERE ARE HESITANT TO ENDORSE THE URGENT CALL TO STOP AN ONGOING GENOCIDE BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE URGING YOU TO DO SO ARE ANTI-SEMITIC, THEN YOU'VE BEEN DUPED. THE ISRAELIS ARE ENACTING A GENOCIDE ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND ACTING IN A BLIND VENGEFUL RAGE. THEY'RE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES WITH US BOMBS. WHETHER THEY'RE JEWISH OR NOT IS IRRELEVANT TO US, AS IT IS TO EVERY BABY IN GAZA WHO HAS NO CONCEPTION OF WHO'S BOMBING HER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S STOP THIS BOMBING BEFORE IT KILLS HER NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ER IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'LL BE READING A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN IN TEXAS. MY NAME IS NADA ABBU SHABAN, AND I WAS TRAPPED IN GAZA FROM OCTOBER 7TH TO NOVEMBER 7TH WHILE VISITING MY FAMILY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED. I WOKE UP DAILY TO THE SOUNDS OF BOMBS FIRING, AND AS THE DAYS AND THE BOMBING CONTINUED, WE WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE TO THE SOUTH, BUT THAT WAS NOT SAFE. MY GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED STATES AND MY CITY HOUSTON, COULD NOT SAVE ME. IN FACT, THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEAR AND TERROR I FELT. I CAME TO ACCEPT THAT I WOULD DIE AND I WOULD MEET MY CREATOR IN THE COMING DAYS WITH DEATH AT MY DOORSTEP, I BEGAN TO SEE THE WORLD IN A DIFFERENT LENS. BEING BORN AND RAISED IN THE UNITED STATES WAS ALL I KNEW, AND IT WAS A LIFE OF LUXURY. HOWEVER, THESE LUXURIES DIDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD WHEN I WAS PLACED IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. IT WASN'T UNTIL A LOCAL ATTORNEY INTERVENED ON MY BEHALF LEGALLY THAT I WAS ABLE TO EXIT ON AN EXIT LIST. WHEN I RETURNED. WHERE WAS MY GOVERNMENT? NOBODY WAS AT THE AIRPORT. WHERE WERE MY ELECTED OFFICIALS? WHERE WERE THEY? SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK, WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN? IN NOVEMBER LAST MONTH, THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION ALLOWING FOR THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT. MAY I HAVE SOMEBODY OF THEIR TIME? PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M READING THE TESTIMONY OF A HOUSTONIAN WHO WAS TRAPPED IN GAZA. MAY I HAVE MORE TIME? COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON? THANK YOU. IN NOVEMBER, I WANT THIS COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER THAT THEY HAVE. IN NOVEMBER, 2023, EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL VOTED YAY TO A RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWED FOR THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO ISRAELI BONDS, WITH WHICH THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER SAID, WITH HIS OWN WORDS, WAS BEING USED TO FUND THE ONGOING MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN GAZA AND ISRAEL. RIGHT NOW, WAIT, EXCUSE ME. WAIT A MINUTE. COME ON NOW. IT WAS, I I CAN POINT YOU TO THE RESOLUTION. MR. BAYER. MA'AM? NO, MA'AM. NO MA'AM. NO MA'AM. AND DO PLEASE, YOU HAVE IT. YOUR TIME EXPIRED. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME EXPIRED. BUT DON'T PUT THAT MISINFORMATION NOW. DON'T DO THAT. I I CAN SHOW YOU. YOU HOLD, HOLD, HOLD IT. WAIT. ONE, ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. AND WE ALLOW EVERYONE TO COME AND SPEAK AND WE RESPECT YOUR VIEW. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SAID YOUR VIEW AND WHEN I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE PUT OUT IS NOT ACCURATE. NOW, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT, PROVIDE IT TO US. OKAY. HOW WOULD I HOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PROVIDE THAT, SIR? YOU CAN PROVIDE IT TO RENEE. IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING HERE, YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT TO RENEE. OKAY. UM, COULD I EMAIL IT TO SOMEBODY? I DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY. YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO RENEE OR ANY ONE OF US. YOU CAN EMAIL. YOU CAN EMAIL ME. WILL DO, SIR. BUT PLEASE DO NOT PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT. I WILL PROVIDE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE FOUND ON THE RESOLUTIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO US. OKAY? BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU NOT ONE PERSON AROUND THIS TABLE VOTED TO MAKE ANY INVESTMENTS INTO ANYBODY WHO WAS GOING TO BE BOMBING FOLK IN, IN, IN THE GAZA. I COULD CLARIFY THAT STATEMENT. WHAT I'M REFERRING TO, IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO? WELL, NO, YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US, OKAY. IT WAS AN ISRAELI BOND. IT WASN'T, THE WORDS WEREN'T. IF YOU'VE GOT, IF YOU'VE GOT THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED OR WHAT I, WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, NOT ONE PERSON AROUND THIS DID VOTED TO MAKE ANY INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT. LEMME PUT IT THAT WAY. INTENTIONAL. OKAY. OKAY. BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO THAT, PLEASE PROVIDE IT TO US. OKAY. UM, COULD I ASK ONE MORE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ABOUT THE INFORMATION? NO, MA'AM. YOU CAN, YOU CAN EMAIL. YOU CAN EMAIL ANY OF US. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET YOUR INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. NEXT SPEAKER, SETH USMAN. [02:25:02] SETH USMAN. MY NAME IS SETH USMAN. I'M A JEWISH HOUSTONIAN CALLING ON OUR CITY COUNCIL TO JOIN OAKLAND, SEATTLE, DETROIT, AND OTHERS. IN PASSING A RESOLUTION DEMANDING A PERMANENCY FIRING GAZA. MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW THAT WHETHER THEY MEET IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR POLITICAL CAREERS AND LEGACY. WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE OR AFTER TODAY WILL NOT BE REMEMBERED NEXT TO YOUR FAILURE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST GENOCIDE. A GENOCIDE MAY POSSIBLE BY OUR TAX DOLLARS, A GENOCIDE THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED, PHOTOGRAPHED AND TELEVISED. A GENOCIDE THAT YOU COULD ONLY IGNORE IF YOU CHOSE TO TURN AWAY. I REMIND THE COUNCIL OF THE WORDS OF THE DOORS TO THIS HALL. I REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE PEOPLE ARE THE CITY, NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, BUT ALSO IN GAZA CITY IN CONUS AND RAFA AND VAL, AS A DESCENDANT OF LITHUANIAN JEWS WHO DID NOT SURVIVE THE HOLOCAUST, I URGE YOU TO ACT WITH THE FIERCE URGENCY THAT NEVER AGAIN IS RIGHT NOW FOR ANYONE PALESTINIANS INCLUDED. THANKS BAKER. FAAH. FAAH SAH IS HERE. I WANT TO FIRST AFFIRM THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION OF THE PALESTINIANS AND ARABS IN THIS ROOM FOR HAVING THE POISE TO ASK FOR A CEASE FIRE WHILE WATCHING OUR SIBLINGS STARVE TO DEATH IF THEY ARE NOT MURDERED BY USAID BOMBS. I'M COMING AS A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN WHO HAS 10 MEMBERS OF MY EXTENDED FAMILY BOMBED IN ISRAEL'S BOMBING OF THE ST. PORPHYRIA CHURCH. I'M COMING AS A PALESTINIAN WHO HAS TWO COUSINS SWEPT UP ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY ISRAEL IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS ALONE. AND I'M COMING AS A PALESTINIAN HOUSTON COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO HAS SPENT TWO MONTHS ORGANIZING THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO THE STREETS TO STOP THE BOMBING OF MY PEOPLE. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW YOUR POWER. YOU KNOW THE PRESSURE OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE WOULD HAVE AND PRESSURING THE WHITE HOUSE TO JOIN THE CHORUS OF COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE AND CALLING FOR AN END TO ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE OF MY PEOPLE. SO I UPLIFT THE QUESTION OF MY BRAVE FRIEND SDA. AND I ASK YOU AS LEADER OF THE CHAMBER, SYLVESTER TURNER, WHEN WILL THE WORDS YOU SAY TO OUR ARAB AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES TRANSLATE INTO ACTION? WHICH PRESSURES THE WHITE HOUSE TO END THE GENOCIDE ON MY PEOPLE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANKS FOR BEING PRESENT. OKAY. OKAY. THANK SPEAKER FOR FOLKS WATCHING OUT HOME. THE MAYOR CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS MANCHI AND OUR PEOPLE DESERVE JUSTICE. THANK YOU. AND FREEDOM AND LIBERTY. THANK YOU. VERY BE REMEMBERED FOR DENYING THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. NHA MANCHI. NHA MANCHI. NHA IS HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE BEING BOMBARDED BY OUR COMMENTS. WE APOLOGIZE. WE ARE SO FRUSTRATED. WE ARE PASSIONATE. A LOT OF US ARE YOUNG. WE AREN'T GUIDED LIKE OTHER FAITH GROUPS. THEY'VE HAD LOBBIES, THEY'VE HAD ORGANIZED INSTITUTIONS. MOST OF US HERE ARE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS. WE ARE A FIRST GENERATION AMERICANS. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. AND WE APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE DISRESPECT BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS, IT IS DISRESPECTFUL FOR US TO SPEAK. OUT OF TURN. WE ARE APOLOGIZING, BUT WE ALSO ASK, COULD YOU PLEASE THE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS? GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING. TRUTH TO POWER, SPEAKING TRUTH TO JUSTICE. COULD THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING YOUR NAMES ON THAT RESOLUTION? WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IF ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THE RE? WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR GENOCIDE FOR ANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUP. I'M ASKING FOR SOLIDARITY WITH CHRISTIANS, JEWS, AND MUSLIMS. YES, IT'S FINE. I'M NOT DISCRIMINATING, NOT ASKING FOR HATRED OR HARM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND YOU NEED NOT APOLOGIZE TO, TO, TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. NO APOLOGY SOUGHT. OKAY. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR VIEW. SO THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . NEXT SPEAKER. ROB JI. ROB LAMANE. ROB. ROB. NEXT SPEAKER JACOB CLEMENTI. BEST FOR RELAX. BEST FOR LIFE. BEST. BEST FOR LIFE. BEST FOR LIFE. BEST FOR RELAX. HELLO. OKAY. UH, PARTYING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW. WHO'S PARTYING FOR ME? I KNOW MY BEAUTIFUL, UH, DAVE MARTIN IS PARTYING. WHO ELSE BUT TURNER? YEAH, IT COULD BE TURNER. HE'S GOING TO BE MISS. NO, HE GONNA BE WHAT? WHAT DID HE SAY? WHAT DID HE SAY? WHAT DID HE SAY? [02:30:01] OH, WELL, UM, OKAY. I FOR THESE PALESTINIANS BEFORE, WELL BEFORE THEIR PARENTS WERE BORN, I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY PEOPLE WILL BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR HEART, NOT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. AND SO I END WITH, WITH THIS MUSIC, UH, HERE IT GOES. YOUR TIME EXPIRED. JACOB. OH, CAN I PLAY THIS FOR Y'ALL? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT JACOB, WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IT FOR THEM OUTSIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU JACOB. THAT'S ALL. BYEBYE. JACOB, WE CALLED WILL, UH, EARLIER WILL HILL. HE WAS NOT PRESENT. WILL HILL, WILL, WILL HILL. WILL HILL KINDA. SORRY, Y'ALL SEEM LIKE Y'ALL GOT A BUSY DAY TODAY. I AM SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT Y'ALL HAVE A JOB TO DO AND Y'ALL GOT TO DO IT. UH, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT S ATTORNEYS LAST TIME WE SPOKE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET WITH SHEILA JACKSON LEE, UH, UPON A CASE I DEAL WITH IN FEDERAL COURT WHERE THEY TAMED WITH MY DOCUMENTS AND SENT ME TO THE POST OFFICE WITH THE ORIGINAL SEALS. UH, THE LADY AT THE FEDERAL COURT TOLD ME TO BRING THOSE SEALS BACK. WELL, I REFUSED TO BRING THEM BACK. I TOOK THEM TO GEORGE FOREMAN. I TOOK 'EM TO UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT BLACK ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES, SOME WHITE ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME HISPANIC ORGANIZATIONS. UH, THE DEAL IS, IS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP A HOMICIDE OVER ME IN HPD IN WHICH YOU NEVER SETTLED THAT I RUN A PLUMBING COMPANY, YOU KNOW, THAT BEEN A MASTER SINCE I WAS 22. OKAY? BUT THAT AIN'T THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN BARGAINING MY BUSINESS FOR THE LONGEST. THEY'VE BEEN USING MY SISTER AND MY FRIENDS FOR YEARS UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SAYING THEY PAY FOR WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME. YOU KNOW? SO I DEAL WITH A CASE WITH LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE. LIBERTY MUTUAL WROTE OFF WITH A RS THAT I HAD EXHAUSTION. THEY TURN IT INTO A SEXUAL HE. THANK YOU. SO, UM, AS COMMUNION FROM GOD, WE TAKE THE LORD'S SUPPER. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS FINE. YOUR TIME HAS, OKAY, BUT WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT WHAT YOU TOLD ME YOU WAS GONNA GIVE YOU, GIVE YOU A CHANCE YOU WERE GOING TALK, TALK TO SHEILA JACKSON LEE. YOU'LL HAVE TO GET WITH RENEE. I, I CAN'T EVEN RECALL MR. WILL. OH, OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, WELL I TALKED TO THE MUSLIMS ABOUT IT, SO WE PROBABLY GETTING READY TO MAKE OUR MOVE. OKAY. MAKE OUR OWN MARCH. ALL THANK YOU WILL. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT COMPLETES THE LIST OF SPEAKERS. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE STAND, WE WE STAND IN. WE STAND IN. WE STAND IN. WE STAND IN [RECESS] RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT NINE. COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE ANNA RUSSELL COUNCIL CHAMBER. I'M ABOUT TO READ THE DESCRIPTION OR CAPTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE WEEK. DECEMBER 19TH AND 20TH 2023. ITEM ONE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF RODERICK O GIBSON TO SERVE AS A F FULL-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. ITEM TWO, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BRAYS OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. ITEM THREE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 18, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS FIFTH WARD ZONE ITEM FOUR, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM FIVE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ITEM SIX, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF REINVESTMENT. ZONE NUMBER 28, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AREA ZONE ITEM SEVEN, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM EIGHT, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ADVISORY BOARD. ITEM NINE, REQUEST FROM MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE. NUMBER 19, CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS UPPER KIRBY REINVESTMENT ZONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM 10, REQUEST FOR MAYOR FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF REAPPOINTMENT TO THE UPPER KIRBY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNATE AN HONORARY STREET MARKER FOR PASTOR ML JACKSON. ITEM 12, EXCUSE ME, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF [02:35:01] $3,759,617 AND 90 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH THE DL ELLIOT ENTERPRISES INC. ITEM 13, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $4,132,566 AND $568 AND 51 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF WORK ON CONTRACT WITH TEXAS PRIDE UTILITIES LLC. ITEM 14, RECOMMENDATION FROM DIRECTOR HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS FOR APPROVAL OF FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,908,263 AND 51 CENTS AND ACCEPTANCE WORK ON CONTRACT WITH JFT CONSTRUCTION INC. ITEM 15, NEIL FISK INC. FOR PURCHASE OF FLOOR CLEANING EQUIPMENT. ITEM 16, SEAMLESS INDUSTRY INC. FOR PURCHASE OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION. ITEM 17 CENTRAL SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES LLC FOR PURCHASE OF 12 MONTH RENEWAL OF SOFTWARE LICENSE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FOR HANDHELD CITATION DEVICES. ITEM 18 APPROVED SPENDING AUTHORITY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,350,000 AND NO CENTS FOR PURCHASE OF V 700 BODY-WORN CAMERAS THROUGH THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR CORPORATE PURCHASING WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. A WATER TO MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. ITEM 19, COUNTRY BALL, U-S-A-L-L-C TO REMOVE, FURNISH AND INSTALL ELECTRIC ACTUATORS. ITEM 20, TEXAS HIGHWAY PRODUCTS FOR PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL PRODUCTS. ITEM 21, TEXAS UNDERGROUND INC. FOR PURCHASE OF SEWER HOSES. ITEM 22, PATRICIA TEXAS SUPPLY AND SERVICE FOR PURCHASE OF WIRE ROPE. ITEM 23, CONSOLIDATED TRAFFIC CONTROLS INC. FOR PURCHASE OF CONTROL MODULES. ITEM 24, ROB MAC INDUSTRIES FOR PURCHASE OF DISINFECTING SPRAY. ITEM 25, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOLLAND AND KNIGHT. ITEM 26, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND GREENBURG TARIG LLP ITEM 27 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND MCCALL PARKHURST AND HORTON LLP, EXCUSE ME. ITEM 28, ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ISSUES OF BONDS BY THE FOURTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. ITEM 29, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND TO EACH HIS HOME COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION JOINED BY HORIZON RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES. ITEM 30, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO CITY'S HOME REPAIR PROGRAM. GUIDELINES ITEM 31, ORDINANCE OF MANY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2018 DASH 56 AS AMENDED TO ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING TO HOME REPAIR PROGRAM MASTER CONTRACTOR AGREEMENTS. ITEM 32, ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO MASTER CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT AND RELATED TRIAL PARTY AGREEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR CITY OF HOUSTON HOME REPAIR PROGRAM TO BE EXECUTED BY CITY OF HOUSTON AND EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONTRACTORS, S-L-S-C-O-L-T-D-P-M-G CONSTRUCTION INC. DSW HOMES LLC, HOUSTON HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC. MAYBERRY HOMES INC. REBUILDING TOGETHER HOUSTON JAMES W. TURNER CONSTRUCTION LTD ITEM 33 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMEND AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT AND OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS RELATED TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ITEM 34 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A NINTH AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM. RENTAL HOUSING PROJECTS ROUND TWO SUB SHIPPING GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. ITEM 35 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INC. ITEM 36 ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AUTHORIZING SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES. ITEM 37 ORDINANCE PROVIDING AND AUTHORIZING APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND COLE KLEIN BUILDERS LLC ITEM 38 ORDINANCE SETTING A HEARING REGARDING JUST AND REASONABLE RETAIL GAS RATES OF CENTER POINT ENERGY, HOUSTON RESOURCES CORP. DBA CENTER POINT ENERGY, INEX AND CENTER POINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS. THE SUGGESTED HEARING, NO THE HEARING DATE IS 9:00 AM WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2024. ITEM 39, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO. ITEM 40 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION. ITEM 41 ORDINANCE TABULATING DE VOTES CAST AND CANVASSING THE RETURNS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON DECEMBER 9TH, 2023. ITEM 42 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING ONE MAIN $614,134 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FORD. AUDIO VIDEO SYSTEMS L-L-C-D-B-A FORD AV ITEM 43 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FIVE MEANS $761,693 AND NO CENTS OUT OF AIRPORTS IMPROVEMENT FUND AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND FORD. AUDIO VIDEO SYSTEMS L-L-C-D-B-A FORD AV ITEM 44 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATED $150 MILLION OUT OF AN AIRPORT SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED 2011 CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND UNITED AIRLINES INC. ITEM 45 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT [02:40:01] AND RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND JACKSON LEWIS PC ITEM 46, ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH FREEMANS TOWN CONSERVANCY, INC. ITEM 47 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS OUTTA PARKS AND RECREATION, DEDICATED DEDICATION, FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAVIER, PETE BARTA AND ELSA PERES SELLERS. ITEM 48 ORDINANCE CON APPROVING AN AWARDING CONTRACT BETWEEN CEDAR OF HOUSTON AND IMPACT STRATEGIC CONSULTING LLC ITEM 49. ORDINANCE AMENING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 18 6 78 TO INCREASE MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND QUEST MARK INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INC. ITEM 50 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC. ITEM 51 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY PARTNERSHIP. ITEM 52 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 25 TO 2,700 BLOCK OF GARAN STREET BETWEEN NEWIN AND GOLD SPEAR STREETS. ITEM 53, ORDINANCE OF MANY. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 22, 2 42. PAST ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE 900 TO 1000 BLOCK OF AURORA STREET. ITEM 54 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING GROUNDWATER REDUCTION PLAN. WHOLESALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 5 44. ITEM 55 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF TWO GRANT APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE COMPLETE CONNECTED RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. GOLFING IN CASHMERE GARDENS, RESILIENT SIDEWALKS AND NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. ITEM 56, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SALE OF A 57 FOOT WIDE GAS PIPELINE EASEMENT OUT OF CITY FEE ON LAND OUT OF THE B, B AND CRR CODE. SURVEY ABSTRACT NUMBER 1 72. ITEM 57, ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THREE, MEETING $150,000 OUT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM. CONSOLIDATED CONSTRUCTION FUND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND WJ INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC. ITEM 58 ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $1,250,000 AND NO CENTS OUT OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL PROJECT FUND, AWARDING CONTRACT TO H AND E AND CONTRACT AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES. LLC ITEM 59 IS ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 10 73. PAST SECOND READING. DECEMBER 6TH, 2023 IS A ORDINANCE GRANTED TO EIGHT AAA FLEXIBLE PIPE CLEANING COMPANY, INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. THIS IS THE THIRD AND FINAL READING ITEM 60. ORDINANCE 2023. 10 74 PAST, UH, SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH. ORDINANCE GRANTING AMERICAN SANITATION SERVICES INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 61 IS THE ORDINANCE 20 23 10 75. PAST SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO CSI CONSOLIDATED LLC, THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 62. ORDINANCE 20 23, 10 76 PAST SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH, ORDINANCE GRANTING TO A PLUS GREENLAND WASTE CORP, A TEXAS CORPORATION. THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 63, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 10 77. PAST SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. ORDINANCE GRANTING TO CZ CONSTRUCTION LLC, THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 64, ORDINANCE 20 23, 10 78, PAST SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH. ORDINANCE GRANTED TOCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC, THIRD AND FINAL READING. ITEM 65, ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 23 10 88. PAST SECOND READING DECEMBER 6TH, 2023. ORDINANCE GRANTED TO LA LA L-L-C-D-B-A 1-800-GOT-JUNK. THIRD AND FINAL READING. THIS IS THE END OF THE CONSENT AGENDA UNDER THE MATTER SEAL CATEGORY. ITEM 66 IS THE ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 39 DASH 62 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. IT WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND KNOX. THIS WAS ITEM 21 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2023. ITEM 67 IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY FOR JOINT RUNOFF ELECTION. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, KU AND ALCORN. THIS WAS ITEM 23 ON AGENDA DECEMBER 13TH. ITEM 68 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING 26 AGREEMENTS OF PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND OR MUSICIANS BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND SOLE PROPRIETORSHIPS. EXCUSE ME. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, MARTIN KNOX AND KUBACH. THIS IS ITEM 37 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13TH, ITEM 69, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING AGREEMENT WITH APPROPRIATION BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTON LAND BANK. THIS WAS TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THIS WAS ITEM 41 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2023. ITEM 70 WAS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING QUALIFIED HOTEL PROJECT AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND 4 0 1 FRANKLIN STREET, LTD. THIS WAS TAB COUNCIL MEMBER PEG CASH TAX, TATUM AND KNOX. THIS WAS ITEM 42 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13. ITEM 71 IS AN ORDINANCE OF MANY REVENUE AGREEMENTS WITH SSP AMERICA. IHI TRIP LLC PARODIES LAGUARDIA AT AT AT IAH 2021 LLC, LATRELL, GALLEY, LP, AND S-H-O-U-J-V-L-L-C. THIS WAS TAB COUNCILMAN FOX, COUNCILMAN KNOX. THIS WAS ITEM 76 [02:45:01] ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2023. AND ITEM 72 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES. THIS IS TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN KNOX. THIS IS ITEM 78 ON AGENDA OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2023. THIS COMPLETES THE READING OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL SESSION OF DECEMBER 20TH, 2023. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SESSION OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 9:00 AM IN THE WORDS OF OUR CURRENT CITY SECRETARY, PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY. HAVE A BLESSED AND FANTABULOUS DAY. [RECONVENE] OKAY, GOOD MORNING. IT'S 10 MINUTES AFTER NINE. UH, AND IT'S ON DECEMBER, ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER THE 20TH, 2023. I'M A SOLICIT ATTORNEY. I'M CALLING THIS MEETING OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DAUGHTER. UM, THIS IS MY PLAN FOR THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE CHIEF FINNER HERE THIS MORNING. AND SO WE WILL, WE'LL TAKE HIS ITEM UP FIRST, THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH, UH, THE APPOINTMENTS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE MAYOR'S REPORT AND START FROM THERE. SO, UH, CHIEF NER, YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? SO, MAYOR, UH, REAL QUICKLY, I KNOW THAT THE, UH, AGENDA IS PACKED TODAY. UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR CITY, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS A CITIZEN. UM, WE ALL KNEW ON, UH, NOVEMBER, UH, THE 11TH, WE HAD AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING ON THE, UH, SOUTHWEST FREEWAY. AND OUR OFFICER GIBSON IS RECOVERING, UM, DOING WELL AT HOME. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CITIZEN, UH, JOHN DALLY, THAT LALLY THAT CAME UP, PUT HIS OWN LIFE IN DANGER ALONG WITH OUR OFFICERS TRULIO TO PULL OUR OFFICER TO SAFETY, I WANTED TO COMMEND THAT. AND I KNOW THERE'S A PROCLAMATION HERE, UM, AND IT'S ALSO A CERTIFICATE, BUT I WANTED HOUSTON TO SEE, AND I WANTED THE POLICE CHIEF TO THANK YOU. UM, AND, AND IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED AND THIS IS IMPORTANT ON YOUR HISTORY, BUT YOUR HISTORY IS NOT IMPORTANT. YOUR HEART AND WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT ALONG WITH OUR FINE OFFICERS. SO, UH, THEIR FAMILIES ARE HERE. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY A BIG THANKS TO, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GONNA BE GOOD. AND I'LL JUST DO SOME PRESENTATIONS. THANKS. LOOK, UH, CHIEF, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR BRINGING, UH, BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN HERE TODAY. UH, LET ME PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, TO JOHN LALEY, AND THEN YOU'LL PRESENT THESE CERTIFICATES TO, TO BOTH. YES. UM, WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2023, MR. JOHN LOY EXHIBIT, AND I'M PRONOUNCING THAT LAST NAME RIGHT, LOWY. YES, SIR. LOY EXHIBITED REMARKABLE COURAGE AND SELFLESSNESS DURING A CRITICAL INCIDENT ON US HIGHWAY 59. AND WHEREAS MR. LOWY WAS DRIVING, WITNESSED A VIOLENT SHOOTOUT BETWEEN HBD OFFICERS AND, AND A CARJACKING SUSPECT. AND WITHOUT HESITATION, HE ACTED WITH SWIFT BRAVERY. AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THE PERILOUS SITUATION, MR. LOY TOOK OVER BEHIND HIS VEHICLE, UH, TO COVER BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. AND UPON SEEING OFFICER GIBSON WOUNDED AND IN NEED BRAVELY RUSHED TO AID THE INJURED OFFICER ALONGSIDE ANOTHER UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER. AND WHEREAS AMIDST THE ONGOING GUNFIRE, MR. LILEY ASSISTED IN PULLING OFFICER GIBSON TO SAFETY BEHIND HIS TRUCK, PROVIDING CRUCIAL COVER WHILE MAINTAINING A CALM AND REASSURING PRESENCE ALONGSIDE FELLOW CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS MR. LAWLEY'S DECISIVE ACTIONS, UNWAVERING COMPOSURE, AND INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE WERE PIVOTABLE IN ENSURING OFFICER GIBSON RECEIVED PROMPT AID AND SUPPORT DURING THIS HARROWING EVENT. AND WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR MR. JOHN LILLEY'S, EXCEPTIONAL HEROISM, UNWAVERING COURAGE, AND SELFLESS DEDICATION TO AIDING A FELLOW CITIZEN IN DISTRESS. AND WHEREAS MR. JOHN LALEY IS RECOGNIZED [02:50:01] FOR HIS OUTSTANDING BRAVERY, UH, QUICK THINKING AND NOBLE ACTIONS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE TRUE SPIRIT OF ALTRUISM AND COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY. THE CITY OF HOUSTON HONORS MR. JOHN ALLY'S EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SAYING TO YOU, SO THEREFORE, I SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY DECLARE CHAPTER DECEMBER 20TH, 2023 AS JOHN LILY'S DAY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO LEMME DO THIS RIGHT QUICK, MAYOR. YEAH. SO, UH, AS I SAID, UM, AND THE SAME THING THAT THE MAYOR READS REEDS, UH, FOR, UM, OUR OFFICERS, SOCRATES, UH, TRI TRULIO ARE THE SAME. THEY ACTED AS A TEAM. UM, SO THEY PULLED THE OFFICER BACK TOGETHER. SO I THINK IT'S FITTING, UM, THAT WE RECOGNIZE Y'ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AND THANKS AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND, UH, THANK YOU. VERY PROUD OF YOU MAN. AND GOD HAS GREAT THINGS TO DO, UH, WITH YOUR LIFE. AND, AND THANKS FOR STEPPING UP. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT Y'ALL DO EVERY DAY. SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AND WE'LL PRESENT THESE, THIS IS FOR YOU. WE GET A PICTURE, ALRIGHT? HOLD THIS PRO. COME ON IN. YEAH, ALL US TO GO. AND YOU ALSO GOT THIS, Y'ALL STAND RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE, TURN AROUND TALKING TO, I GET, I'M JUST APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE AND OUT OF HERE, AND I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY CONTINUES TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH. I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY, MR. LARRY. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX. OKAY. OFFICER TRUJILLO. AND STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND COURAGE. LET ME JUST SAY THAT WHAT Y'ALL DID, UH, TOGETHER, I THINK SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S VERY UNDERSTAFFED. UH, WE DON'T HAVE AS LARGE A POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WE NEED FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS A CITIZENRY WHO SUPPORTS OUR POLICE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAD A, UM, A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE AT SOME POINT IN YOUR PAST WITH THE POLICE, AND YOU OVERCAME IT TO HELP THIS OFFICER. YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, WHEN HE NEEDED IT. SO GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND OFFICER TRUJILLO, AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR. GOD BLESS YOU TWO AND YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU TOO. COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY D. THOMAS. THANK YOU. MERRY PRO, TIM. GOOD MORNING. UH, CHIEF FINN TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING. UH, THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW, UM, WE ALWAYS SAY AROUND THIS HORSESHOE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. UM, AND YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, FINDING YOUR ROLE, UH, AND BEING A GOOD HOUSTONIAN AND DOING WHAT YOU CAN ONLY DO. I WILL TELL YOU, I ACTUALLY SAW THAT TRANSPIRE ON INSTAGRAM. SOMEBODY WAS ON THE FREEWAY LIVE, AND I WAS WATCHING IT AS IT HAPPENED. AND SO FOR, TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS IT AND ALSO PUT A FACE TO THE NAME AND, UM, OF YOUR HEROISM, I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UH, UH, JOB WELL DONE. UM, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOUR FAMILY AND, UH, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. I VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. CHIEF FINN, THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOU AND MAYOR TURNER FOR MAKING TIME FOR THIS TODAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE HEART OF HOUSTON. UM, WHAT YOU DID ON THAT FREEWAY AND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IS CORRECT. WE ALL WATCHED IT LIVE. UM, PEOPLE WERE, UM, HAD IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UM, WE SAW IT ON THE NEWS, UH, AND, AND WE, I I REMEMBER SITTING IN MY LIVING ROOM SAYING, WOW, YOU KNOW, IF I WAS ON A FREEWAY, WOULD I GET OUTTA MY CAR AND GO INTO GUNFIRE AND HELP SOMEBODY? AND THAT TAKES COURAGE AND BRAVERY, UM, TO RISK YOUR OWN LIFE AND TO OFFICER TRUJILLO, WE KNOW Y'ALL DO THIS EVERY DAY. Y'ALL WALK IN THE FACE OF DANGER EVERY DAY. UM, AND I REALLY WANNA KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE FORCE , UH, BACON? THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS. YOU'VE BEEN ON THE THREE YEARS? YES MA'AM. UH, WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO [02:55:01] KEEP HOUSTONIANS SAFE. AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING THE BRAVERY AND HEROISM OF BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING A HEART FOR PEOPLE AND FOR CARING FOR OTHERS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES HOUSTON SO INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU MA'AM. AND WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND YOU? YES. I'M NOT SURE WHOSE GUESTS THEY ARE, BUT WE'D LOVE TO MEET 'EM. WHAT AM I DOING NOW? INTRODUCING YOU. OKAY, SO THIS, OKAY, SO I GOT JENNIFER, MY GIRLFRIEND, SHE'S HERE. AND THEN I GOT MY TWO BOSSES, WHICH IS DAVID AND LIZ HANKS. AND THIS IS LIKE A-T-G-M-C-G-M MIX UP. ALRIGHT, GOOD. ALRIGHT. UH, OH, COME ON UP. COME ON UP. S TALKING TO MIKE. ALRIGHT GUYS. WELL, I HAVE MY LOVELY GIRLFRIEND, MADISON. I HAVE MY SISTER, JENNIFER, MY LITTLE NIECE, SOPHIA, MY MOM AND MY DAD. SO THEY'RE ALL HERE FOR US. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. HIS FAMILY, HIS FAMILY. COME ON. TAKE. AND YOU SEE WHAT A SMALL WORLD, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE PEOPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROCLAMATIONS AND THE PLAQUE. AND JOHN LALEY JUST ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, HEY MAN, WHERE YOU GET THE TENNIS SHOES FROM? YOU KNOW, , HE LIKED HIS SWAG. HE LIKED HIS SWAG. YEAH. SO, UM, WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO START OFF, UH, TO START OFF THE MORNING. AMEN. ALL RIGHT, SO FROM [MISCELLANEOUS] HERE WE ARE GOING TO GO, UH, TO THE, UH, TO THE APPOINTMENTS. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL CALL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10, ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10. JUST NEED A MOTION. TATUM MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON TO BE MOVED. AND SECOND ON, ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF POST GRANTED, IF YOU'RE HERE THIS MORNING, PLEASE STAND AND COME, COME TO THE FRONT. UM, ITEM ONE IS, UM, FOR THE FULL-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. UH, RODERICK O GIBSON IS JUDGE GIBSON HERE, AND JUDGE MARSHALL PRESIDING JUDGE, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT IS ALSO HERE, JUDGE GIBSON. CONGRATULATIONS. UM, THANK YOU, SIR. CERTAINLY THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE. WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE NUMBER ONE, JUDGE MARSHALL, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, FOR PRESIDING OVER THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, UH, FOR PRETTY MUCH MOST OF MY TIME AS MAYOR. AND YOU'VE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. AND NOW WE HAVE JUDGE GIBSON. SO JUDGE GIBSON, IF YOU'LL JUST SAY HELLO TO US THIS MORNING. HELLO EVERYONE, AND, UM, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN KOSH, JUDGE GIBSON, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, UH, UH, JUDGE [03:00:01] AS WELL. UM, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW. THAT'S TRUE. YOU KNOW, WE USED TO SIT IN THE BASEMENT AND GO THROUGH THAT COMPUTER PROGRAM AND WORK ON THINGS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIMES WE SPENT TOGETHER. IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE MEMORIES. UH, YOU ALWAYS HAD A VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE. AND, UH, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, SERVICE TO THE CITY AND, UH, GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT. AND, UH, MY PLEASURE. UH, I, I APPRECIATE, UH, MAYOR, THE PRESIDING JUDGE THAT WE HAVE, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR LISTENING TO ME OVER AND OVER AND OVER TO THAT WE NEEDED HER TO BE OUR PRESIDING JUDGE. GOD BLESS Y'ALL. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, ON POSITION TWO, I MEAN, UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, THE, THE DIRECTORS OF THE BRAVES OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ON DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, SEVEN IS STARLA. K, K, UH, TURNBOW. EIGHT IS MARSHA G FIFTH, NINE IS ETHAN MURRIS 10 IS STEVE MOORE. 11 IS GEORGE O JUAN GUMMA. IF ANYONE IS HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. OH, I'M SORRY. STEVE MOORE. UH, STEVE, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. AND, UH, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BRAVE OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. REALLY APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK OF THE BRAY OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. A LARGE PORTION OF THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS IN DISTRICT A AND YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AREAS THAT THEY ARE IMPACTING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR ESPLANADES AND THE DE LITTERING. THE WORK THAT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT DOES IS INTENTIONAL, UM, AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE EACH ONE OF YOU WILLING TO VOLUNTEER AND PARTICIPATE IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY BETTER EVERY DAY. SO, MR. MOORE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK TOGETHER. AND COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. UM, DISTRICT J ALSO SHARES A SMALL, UH, PORTION OF THE BRAYS OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND YOU ALL DO A TREMENDOUS JOB AT, UH, HELPING WITH A LOT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES OF SOUTHWEST HOUSTON. AND STEVE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU THE ENTIRE BOARD, BUT SPECIFICALLY YOU, UH, FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT, UH, AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN KNOX. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND STEVE. GOOD, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, UH, FOR THE BRAVE OAKS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. BUT MAY, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE HERE DON'T KNOW WHAT STEVE DOES IN HIS REAL LIFE. HE'S A PROPERTY OWNER AND HE LIVES IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE THAT HE OWNS. AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB, PARTICULARLY IN THE GREENS POINT AREA OF MAKING A SAFE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON HIS PROPERTIES. SO HE PUTS HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS, AND HE PUTS HIS BODY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS. AND FOR THAT, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO, NOT ONLY FOR BRAYS OAKS, BUT ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU HAPPEN TO OWN IN, IN, IN HOUSTON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. K. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, STEVE, GOOD TO SEE YOU. I DON'T THINK THEY MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE ALSO A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT SCHOOL. YOU DO THAT SO YOU CAN I AM. AND IT'S ALWAYS IN THE LOW INCOME SCHOOLS. YEAH. SO, SO THAT YOU CAN, UH, RELATE TO THE CHILDREN. AND SO YOU CAN STAY IN, I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET THE TIME. YOU, YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE BUSINESSES AND YET YOU, YOU GO AND, AND YOU'VE BASICALLY ARE VOLUNTEERING AT THE SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEVE. APPRECIATE IT. ANY CHANCE I COULD HAVE JUST A COUPLE MINUTES TO SHARE? WELL, STEVE, WE ARE IN A, WE'RE IN A PUSH THIS MORNING, SO, UM, BUT SAY HELLO TO US. UH, SO GUESS FOR TWO MINUTES, OR NO, ABOUT 30 SECONDS, STEVE. OH, ALRIGHT. HANDOUT. OKAY. I CAN REFER YOU TO A HANDOUT. AND, UM, UM, UM, THE REST OF IT, I GUESS I'LL JUST COVER LATER, BUT, UH, I WANT TO EN EN EN ENCOURAGE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE KIDS THAT ARE AT RISK, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A, UH, WHERE HOUSTON MIGHT, UH, NOT DO TOO WELL LONG TERM IF WE DON'T REALLY FOCUS ON, ON HELPING OUR KIDS. THANKS, STEVE. THANK YOU. THANKS, THANKS VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. OKAY. AND THEN ON THREE AND FOUR, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UM, TO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, UH, THE FIFTH WARD ZONE, UM, ALICE KERMAN, HARVEY CLEMENS JR. KATHY FLANAGAN, UH, PEYTON AND ALLISON HAY. SO THIS IS TO THE, UH, DETER [03:05:01] AS WELL AS TO THE FIFTH WARD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. DR. CLEMMENS, GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. KATHY, GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING, AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY. LOOKS FORWARD, UH, TO WORKING WITH YOU, UH, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. UH, IN THE FIFTH WARD, IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE CONSISTENTLY, UM, BEEN THERE DEDICATED, COMMITTED, UH, HEARTS IN IT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. COUNCILMAN JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ECHO, UM, THE MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UM, FOR FIFTH WARD, UM, SINCE BEING IN OFFICE, YOU GOT, I MEAN, WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING GROUNDBREAKINGS, UM, YOU BEING INNOVATIVE AND JUST COMING UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT FIFTH WARD IS MOVING, UM, FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S ARTS, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE JUST HAD A GROUNDBREAKING ON THE BUSINESS CENTER. UM, WHAT IS IT, FIFTH? UM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET A FIFTH. 25. 10. 25, 10, YOU KNOW, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. UM, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A VISION, YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON THE SIDES NOT SUPPORTING WHAT YOU DO, BUT YOU KEEP IT GOING, YOU KNOW? AND SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR FIFTH WARD AND THE DISTRICT B. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN EVAN SHABA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CAN SPEAK JUST A LITTLE TODAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU BOTH IN ALL THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, GIVEN YOURSELVES FOR SERVICE. AND CERTAINLY PASTOR CLEMONS, MY FRIEND, JOY ALWAYS SENDS HER REGARDS. THANK YOU. AND WE JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO. THANK, THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR THE, OVER THE 80 YEARS, HAVING WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND THANK YOU. I'VE DONE SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS AND I THINK THERE'S EVEN AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY DEALING WITH ST. ELIZABETH PLACE. MM-HMM . SO, UM, IF YOU'LL JUST SAY HELLO TO US THIS MORNING, STAR PASTOR, THANKS, COUNSEL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ALL OF WHAT WE DO COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND MAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH ALL OF THE CRISIS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH. WE'LL MISS YOUR LEADERSHIP, SIR. THANK YOU. BUT WE HOPE WE DON'T MISS YOU CONTINUING IN OUR CITY. DOING GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. KATHY. I'D LIKE TO ECHO REVEREND CLEMONS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO COMPREHENSIVELY REVITALIZE HOUSTON'S FIFTH WARD. AND THE WORK THAT WE DO CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR INVESTMENT. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE HOPE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE GOING FORWARD. WE HAVE MANY GREAT THINGS IN STORE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU FOR BEING A MAYOR TO ALL COMMUNITIES. MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. OKAY, AND FIVE, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. THIS IS TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD, UM, ELLA R ROGER BR AND I MAY BE MESSING THAT NAME UP. UM, BILL BROWN, EDGAR MELTON, CRAIG WILLIAMS, GRACE RODRIGUEZ, BRANDI HARLOW, SUZANNE DE, SUSAN DEON, UH, REALLY DYSON, ADRIANA GONZALEZ, LINDA TOYOTA, TOM YOUNG, ALAN BERGON, RAUL KETTY, MARLON MITCHELL, KATRINA CHAMBERS. AND SINCE I JUST KIND OF CALL YOUR NAMES UP RANDOMLY, SUSAN, WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU? JUST GIVE US, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD MORNING. UM, AS THE CHAIR OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BOARD, IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE AND REPRESENT ME'S WEBE SMALL BUSINESSES. UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF HOPEFULLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF, UM, DIRECTOR MURRAY. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS, UH, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, HAVE SMALL BUSINESS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. AND, BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT HOUSTON AS DIVERSITY AND CITY OF OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME, BORN AND RAISED IN CAME WOUND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AT THE TABLE TO EXPRESS MY VIEW, GIVE MY OP OPINION, AND SUPPORT, UH, OTHER BUSINESSES AND REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE. THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MY, AND REALLY BELIEVING THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF OUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. , GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND THANK YOU ALL COUNCILS, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE ON THE OBO ADVISORY BOARD TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESS TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THANK YOU. HOW YOU DOING? BILL BROWN AND MY FRATERNITY BROTHER, THANK [03:10:01] YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. UM, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2015 FROM ST. LOUIS. UH, MANY PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW MY ENERGY AND MY PASSION FOR HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES. SO I WORK FORTSON MAJOR CONTRACTOR HERE IN HOUSTON, AND I BUY WORK. SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, IF I COULD DO A JOB WITH ALL MINORITY BUSINESSES, I WOULD DO IT. THAT'S HOW PASSIONATE I AM ABOUT IT. BUT WITH THE RULES AND THE WAY THINGS WORK, IT WORKS OUT. SO THANK YOU AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ON THE BOARD AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UM, I'M ALAN BERGERON. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND REST OF THE COUNCIL, SUPPORT OF THIS DEPARTMENT INTO SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. HOW YOU DOING? MAYOR? CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US. MY NAME IS ED MELTON, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SMALL CONSULTING FIRM. UM, ONE THING I MUST SAY IS MY BUSINESS GOT STARTED BECAUSE OBO CERTIFICATION, MY FIRST CONTRACT, SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR PRO, TIM TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOARD AND THESE REAPPOINTMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITY. UM, THEY KEEP OUR ECONOMY STRONG. UM, THE NUMBER OF JOBS PRODUCED FROM THESE SMALL BUSINESSES IS WHAT KEEPS HOUSTONIANS WORKING. UM, THE DIVERSITY OF THIS BOARD, THE NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE STARTED THEIR BUSINESSES THROUGH OBO AND TRAVERSE, UM, THE CHALLENGES AND USE THAT EXPERIENCE TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR OTHERS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FROM MEMBERS THAT ARE SERVING ON BOARDS LIKE THIS. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR MURRAY FOR HER INCREDIBLE WORK, UM, AND ALL THAT SHE DOES IN THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO BRANDY HARLOW, DISTRICT K RESIDENT, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND EACH ONE OF YOU, UM, YOU, YOU DO A GREAT JOB. AND ALL OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, CAN LEARN AND GLEAN FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE POLICIES THAT YOU HELP US TO SHAKE FOR OTHER BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. RAUL, GOOD TO SEE YOU, BILL BROWN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO EACH ONE OF YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND COUNCILWOMAN EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU DIRECTOR MURRAY FOR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. THIS BOARD IS SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I REPRESENT A COMMUNITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT REALLY, REALLY NEED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED. AND SO I DO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CERTAINLY, UH, LINDA TOYOTA. SO GREAT TO SEE YOU BACK FROM MY HCC DAYS. AND OF COURSE, I'VE KNOWN ALAN BERGERON FOREVER AND KATRINA CHAMBERS, UH, CERTAINLY FOR ALL OF THE ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU ALL DO WITH DISTRICT D AND BRANDY AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE RENDERED YOUR YOUR TIME FOR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, UM, PUTTING FORTH YOUR TIME, DIRECTOR MURRAY, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. UM, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE MINORITY PARTICIPATION, UM, ON THE ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THE CITY OPERATIONS WORK, THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, FILLING OUT THE APPLICATIONS. UM, BUT THE BOARD IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES. SO YOU ALL ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL AND THE DAY-TO-DAY OF HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY. AND I THINK THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL AND GET ADVICE ON HOW WE SET POLICY. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. MARSHA. QUITE FRANKLY, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU . I WONDER WHY , BUT, UH, MARSHALL, UM, MURRAY, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE INTO THE ENTIRE BOARD, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. SUSAN. YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE, UH, UM, GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN CHAMBER IS AMAZING IN AND OF ITSELF. SO ALL OF YOU I KNOW LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, UM, WORKING WITH YOU FROM THE SIDELINE. UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. SO THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH. OKAY. AND THEN ON SIX, UM, UH, SIX IS TO SEE, UM, CHURCH 28. WAS THAT FIVE AND SIX? THAT WAS JUST FIVE? MM-HMM. THAT WAS THE OBO ADVISORY BOARD, AND SIX IS TO DIRECTORS OF THE REINVESTMENT ZONE 28. MM-HMM. WE MUST HAVE A, OKAY, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE WORKING, WHAT ARE WE WORKING WITH? SIX IS, OKAY, HOLD ON. [03:15:01] LET'S MAKE SURE WE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE GOT DIFFERENT AGENDAS AROUND HERE. WE SIX IS HERE, SEE SIX ON MINE IS IS IS TUR 28TH. 28. THAT'S NOT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS. OFFICE OF OB. SO WHAT IS OOB? OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE THAT. WE'VE APPROVED THEM ALL. OKAY. THE JACKET MAY HAVE BEDAZZLED US. THAT IS OKAY THEN. I, I HAVE THE WRONG ONE. YEAH, I'M GONNA CORRECT ON THERE. THIS IS SIX AND THIS IS FIVE. ARE WE ON ITEM SEVEN? OKAY, ON SEVEN. SEVEN IS THE GREATER NORTH SIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UM, ONE IS EDWIN CADI. TWO IS JOSE A KA KALE, COLLEEN, COLLEEN, DO, NO, I'M MISSING HIS NAME OUT. UH, THREE IS UM, MARY VASQUEZ. FOUR IS CHRISTIAN BARRAZA, AND FIVE IS MARY, MARY M LAWLER. AND IF YOU ALL WILL RESTATE YOUR NAMES AND GIVE US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. GOOD MORNING, IT'S MAKI AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHRISTIAN. BARRAZA, BARZA. THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. LOOK, LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS TERRA, UM, UM, THE GREATER NORTHSIDE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. VERY IMPORTANT. UM, SO NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND SAYING YES. NUMBER TWO, LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY AS WE LOOK TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THESE COMMUNITIES AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO, UM, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR YOU. SO HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE ARE ON, UH, EIGHT, UH, HOUSTON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ADVISORY BOARD. UH, IF YOU, YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, ONE IS EILEEN EGAN. TWO IS KATHY BLUE FOR DANIELS. THREE IS KEN ROGERS. FOUR IS NORTH LUNA, FIVE IS MARIKA MOORE, SIX IS YVETTE. ANO ANO YANO. SEVEN IS SANDRA RODRIGUEZ, UH, AND EIGHT IS CHARITY CARTER WITH SANDRA RODRIGUEZ SERVING AS THE CHAIR. SO AGAIN, I CALL YOUR NAMES, BUT IF YOU'LL JUST, UH, AGAIN, RESTATE YOUR NAMES SO WE WE'LL KNOW STARTING RIGHT HERE. YES MA'AM. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NORA LUNA AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. IN WHICH AREA? I'M SORRY? UM, E WESTWOOD. OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. YES. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M MARI MOORE FROM SECOND WARD. HAPPY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SANDRA BUENO. GOOD MORNING SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. I AM IN DISTRICT J IN THE GULFTON AREA. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KEN ROGERS AND I GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO GUESS WHAT DISTRICT I'M FROM. GOOD MORNING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. MAYOR, THE JACKET IS AWESOME. . I'M KATHY COOPER DANIELS FROM FIFTH WARD AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU ALL. LEMME JUST START. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THIS MONTH, THIS, UM, ADVISORY BOARD IS, UH, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THESE COMMUNITIES THAT FOR A LONG TIME HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED, UNDER RESOURCED LACK OF INVESTMENTS. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING AND WANNA KEEP THE EMPHASIS ON IT. UH, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE START THINGS AND THEN WE STOP. UM, BUT THE COMMUNITY IS STILL SAYING, OKAY, WHAT'S NEXT? AND SO, UM, YOU BECOME THE EYES, THE EARS, THE ADVOCATES, THE VOICES, UH, TO SAY, DON'T STOP, KEEP GOING. AND, UH, TO KEEP THESE INITIATIVES AND THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. SO YOUR PRESENCE IS CRITICALLY INVO IMPORTANT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE WAY I SEE IT, YOU BECOME THE CITY COUNCIL OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, OKAY? INTERFACING WITH THIS, UH, CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS AS WELL. AND IT'S MY HOPE, UH, THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, YOU'LL INTERFACE WITH THEM AS WELL IF COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD ON THAT. OKAY, SO LET ME YELL COUNCIL [03:20:01] MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. I AM EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS THIS MORNING. AND THEN THANK YOU MAYOR FOR, UH, LISTENING TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE INTEGRITY OF THE ACTION PLANS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CARRIED THROUGH. MY ASK IS TO KEEP US HONEST AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE WORK FOR THE YEARS, UH, THAT WE'VE ASKED YOU TO SUPPORT AND IDENTIFY YOUR PRIORITIES, THAT THEY MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE. IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND WE WANT TO, UM, PROVE TRUE ON OUR PROMISE TO COMMUNITIES THAT WE HEAR THEIR VOICE. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO NORA LUNA, WHO'S MY NEIGHBOR. UM, BUT SHE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE A LEAF WESTWOOD ACTION PLAN. UM, AND I COULD JUST WALK DOWN AND KNOCK ON HER DOOR AND SAY WHAT IS GOING ON? ? UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU. SHE'S A RECENT, UH, GRADUATE OF PROJECT BLUEPRINT WITH UNITED WAY, AND SHE WORKS WITH CENTERPOINT, ONE OF OUR PARTNERS. UM, SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOUR CONTRIBUTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO OF COURSE, THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SERVICE. THIS IS SO IMPOR IMPORTANT TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. AND CERTAINLY I KNOW TRUSTEE KATHY BLUFORD DANIELS FOR ALL OF HER WORK FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND SHE IS SO HIGHLY REGARDED IN, NOT JUST IN HER AREA, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR HER VOICE OF REASONING. AND SO, OF COURSE THEN I HAVE MR. KEN ROGERS OVER THERE. OF COURSE, YOU CAN TELL HE LOVES THIRD WARD, RIGHT? AND SO CERTAINLY I THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. HIS WIFE IS BACK THERE. SHE'S PRETTY QUIET. UH, SHE'S MY JACK YATES, UH, ALUM. AND WE HAVE ADOPTED KEN AS WELL, BECAUSE HE DOES SUCH TREMENDOUS WORK WITH THE JACK YATES ALUMNI. AND I SEE MR. CARL DAVIS BACK THERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. CERTAIN ONE NIGHT. ALEX, SHANNON BUCKS, THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN POLLETT. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS, UH, ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES IN THE FOUNDATION THAT WAS LAID, UM, TO DIRECTOR BUGS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. ABSOLUTELY. UM, AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK THIS BOARD, UH, IS EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE, UH, IT COMES FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE WORK THAT YOU ALL PUT FORTH IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, SHOUT OUT TO YOU ALL IN A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO, UH, SANDRA RODRIGUEZ, AND GLAD TO SEE YOU SERVING AS CHAIR AS WELL. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. UM, VICE MAYOR, CAST TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, THAT THESE, UM, MEMBERS OF THIS ADVISORY BOARD CAME FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF EACH OF THE DISTRICTS THAT SPECIFICALLY HAVE PROJECTS IN THEIR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW CHARITY CARD IS NOT HERE, UM, BUT WE'VE GOT A, A BIG PROJECT IN DISTRICT K THAT WE WANNA SEE CROSS THE FINISH LINE. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE PROJECTS TAKE LONGER THAN OUR TERMS OF SERVICE. AND SO WE HAVE TO PUT, UM, THIS BOARD IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR WORK, UM, IS NOT IN VAIN. AND WE GET TO CONTINUE THE WORK IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR PROJECT IN FORT BEND AND EVERY ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU REPRESENT AND THE WORK THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT FEEL COMPLETE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU EVERYONE, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK, UH, MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS VISION ON COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, UH, AND DIRECTOR BUGS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AS WELL. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERY, EVERYONE FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. UH, I KNOW I ALSO WANT TO THANK YVETTE ANO, UH, WHO'S REPRESENTING MAGNOLIA PARK, SMITH EDITION MANCHESTER. UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MAGNOLIA PARK AND, UH, TO KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE REASON I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL. 'CAUSE THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD BEEN NEGLECTED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IN MY OPINION. UH, BUT THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR VISION AND COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY OUR CITY, UH, TO HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE. UH, AND IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT ARE SERVING YOUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER. OBJECTION, JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, HEARING US OUT, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, AS REGARDS TO THIS BOARD, UM, TO OVERSEE THIS PROJECT, TO MAKE SURE IT'S STILL MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, UM, THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WE HAVE TWO COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, AND THE, UM, RESIDENTS HAVE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT, UM, YOUR VISION AND THEIR VISION IS REALIZED. AND SO I KNOW THIS BOARD WILL MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE VISION IS REALIZED. AND SO, UM, TRUSTEE DANIELS, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL. UM, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN DISTRICT B BEING TRUSTEE AND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE KEEP YOU AT WORK. AND SO THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS, UH, NOMINATION AND DIRECT THE BUGS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, SAYING YES, [03:25:01] . ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, ROS. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR BUGS. I REALLY, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE, WHO ARE, UM, JOINING THIS BOARD. UM, CLEARLY YOU KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY SO WELL AND, AND YOU SUCCESSFUL ADVOCATES ALREADY. I WANNA JUST REALLY GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO MONICA MOORE FOR ACCEPTING THIS POSITION. THERE ARE TWO, UM, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES IN DISTRICT H AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, STRUGGLE THERE TOO, YOU KNOW, AROUND, UM, YOU KNOW, OLD NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT ARE CIRCLED DOWNTOWN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE CHANGING, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UM, WE NEED TO ADAPT. AND, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, MONICA, YOUR, YOUR, UM, COMMITMENT TO, TO SAFE STREETS AND, AND AT, IN YOUR VERY SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY. SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE IN THIS ROLE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT THE COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING, MAYOR. 'CAUSE UM, I'VE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR BUGS ABOUT THE GREAT WORK OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. AND I, I THINK WE REALLY OWE YOU JUST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR THIS GREAT PROJECT. I THINK OF IT AS AMONG YOUR HIGHEST SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENTS. AND I'M SAYING THAT AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, UM, IN ADDITION TO BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE FOR 10 YEARS, EIGHT OF WHICH WITH YOU MAYOR. AND, AND WHAT THIS PROVIDES, I THINK AS SOME OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID IS, UM, AND, AND YOU SAID IT, IT'S A SECONDARY COUNCIL. IT'S THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL. AND, UH, SECONDARY FOR US, LIAISING WITH OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS IN MANY WAYS, YOU ALL DUPLICATE YOUR SERVICE ON YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, FROM WHERE YOU COME IN, YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS COMPLETE COMMUNITIES HAS BEEN SUCH AN INSIGHTFUL AND APPROPRIATE WAY TO TURN DEVELOPMENT AROUND IN THIS CITY. AND WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPEN. AND THIS IS HOW WE DO IT WITH PROJECT BY PROJECT ACTIVITIES. AND I KNOW MAYOR, AS YOU AND I TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY, WE SEE IT AS WE DID THIS PAST WEEKEND IN DISTRICT B AND DISTRICT A AND ALL DOWN THE ALPHABET. AND IT'S, UH, JUST AMAZING. SO YOU ALL, MANY OF WHOM I KNOW PERSONALLY ARE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. I'M SO GRATEFUL. AND JUST REMEMBER WHERE YOU STAND IN THAT STRATA. 'CAUSE WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. YOU ARE HERE TO HELP US, AND WE WANT TO HELP YOU DO YOUR JOBS. AND IT'S A PIPELINE THAT HAS NEVER EXISTED BEFORE IN THIS CITY. AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE. AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. LOOK, I ECHO ALL OF THAT AND CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DELIGHTED I AM, UH, UH, THAT YOU ALL ARE, UM, AGREED TO BE IN THIS ROLE, UH, BECAUSE IT DOES, IT IS ORGANIC IN SO MANY WAYS. UH, WE SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS IN THESE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, COMING UP WITH A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS. BUT WHAT SOMETIMES IS VERY FRUSTRATING, COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS KNOW WHAT THEY NEED, UH, BUT THE RESOURCES ARE LACKING. AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND, THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE WHO WORK, UM, IN COMMUNITIES. UH, SHANNON BEING THE DIRECTOR, ONE, ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE IS A PAID CITY EMPLOYEE. THAT'S RIGHT. SHANNON. AND THE OTHER AND FOUR ARE GRANT FUNDED. THAT'S RIGHT. THE DOLLARS FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND LORD PART COMES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. $0. BUT YEAH. BUT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE SOMETIMES IN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND THE STAFF CITY EMPLOYEES, WELL, THEY'RE WORKING HERE AT THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE PAID FOR BY OUTSIDE FUNDING. HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, PUT THE FIRST BIG PIECE, $2 MILLION, AND IT WAS HOUSTON ENDOWMENT WHO SAID, WE BELIEVE IN THIS INITIATIVE AND WE WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR YOUR PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHY YOU REPRESENT THE FIRST MAJOR PIECE. AND I'M, I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU'RE COMING UP TODAY BECAUSE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION IS THE SECOND PIECE. AND THAT'S AN ENTITY TO RAISE THE DOLLARS, HELP RAISE THE DOLLARS TO HELP PUSH THROUGH THE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED. MORE GRANT FUNDING. YEAH. AND MORE GRANT FUNDING. THEY'RE NOT COMING UP WITH ANY NEW PROJECTS. THEIR GOAL IS SIMPLY TO HELP RAISE THE MONEY FOR YOU ALL TO USE, TO MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD. UM, BUT YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOICES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU WILL BE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED, UH, BECAUSE THE, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, UH, YOUR VOICE AND THE CITY DOES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WILL UNFOLD IN YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. NINE [03:30:01] AND 10 ARE THE SAME. UH, AND THIS IS THE REINVESTMENT ZONE, UH, UPPER KIRBY. UH, AND SO IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UH, UH, STANLEY CHARLES JONES JR. SIDNEY S BUDDY BAILEY, TAMMY C WALLACE, EMIL PENA, RUSSELL H. JACKSON, ROBERT CASEY, SUSAN DYSON. AND, UH, THE SAME PRACTICE. AND THE SAME THING FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR 10 AS WELL, WHICH IS THE REAPPOINTMENT, UH, TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. UH, SUSAN AND TAMMY, AGAIN, TWO DYNAMIC WOMEN. YOU GOT TWO CHAMBERS HERE. TWO, UH, TWO CHAMBERS, TWO INCREDIBLE AMAZING LEADERS THAT ARE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. AND AGAIN, UM, YOU ARE, BOTH OF YOU ARE BUSY, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU NEED THINGS DONE, YOU GO TO BUSY PEOPLE. MM-HMM . SO, UH, UH, AGAIN, I CAN'T, I CAN'T TELL YOU, UM, HOW AMAZINGLY HELPFUL Y'ALL HAVE BEEN, UH, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. AND I KNOW YOUR, AND BY YOUR VIRTUE OF SAYING YES, YOUR SERVICE CONTINUES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. NOW INTRODUCE YOURSELVES ONE MORE TIME, TAMMY TAMMY WALLACE. I'M THE CO-FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER HOUSTON, LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MAYOR, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ANYONE, THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS. AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT AND HAD HAD THAT INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT IN YOUR EIGHT YEARS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSION. SO IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE. THANK YOU. THANKS, TAMMY. SUSAN, ONE MORE TIME. AND I'M SUSAN DYSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER HOUSTON WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PROUD TO SERVE. AND I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PECK FOR APPOINTING ME TO THIS POSITION. AND, AND, UH, I THANK YOU AGAIN, ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING. IT TAKES A LOT, I KNOW, UM, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS. UH, AND TAMMY, UH, LEMME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU. UM, IT IS BEEN A JOY WORKING WITH YOU, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH THE LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND LET'S BACK UP TO FIVE, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UM, DO THE REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 28. AND IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD. UM, BILL BROWN, SEAN MENKEN, AND NICOLA FUENTES TUB. AND IS THAT IT? OKAY, ONE MORE TIME. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. ABSOLUTELY. I'M STAYING BUSY. SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO, UH, THE TURS, AGAIN, IT'S IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. I, I STARTED IN THE MEDICAL CENTER WITH MEMORIAL HERMAN, UH, WHEN WE DID THE BIG EDITION, UH, THERE WITH THE HERMAN PAVILION TOO. SO KNOWING A LOT ABOUT THE AREA, UM, I THINK IT WAS ONLY PRUDENT FOR ME TO GET INVOLVED IN THE TURS IN, IN THAT REGARD. SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I AM SHARING, UH, UH, MY SPACE WITH, UH, WITH THE FOOD, UH, INSECURITY BOARD. UH, COUNCILMAN POLLETT, UH, YOU WANT TO, UH, TAKE IT FROM HERE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, TWO YEARS AGO, UM, WE VOTED ON CREATING THE FOOD INSECURITY BOARD, AND THAT WAS A NEW BOARD THAT CAME TO THE CITY THAT WAS CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD PUT FORTH POLICY AND IDEAS THAT WE COULD CONSIDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BEING OPEN TO CREATING THIS, THIS BOARD. UM, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP BEFORE US RIGHT NOW. WE CHARGE THEM WITH, UM, AS A BODY WORKING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS ON SOME IDEAS AND CONCEPTS THAT WE CAN, UH, CONSIDER AND HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD ON. AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF THE BOARD, UH, WHO IS HERE, SHARK. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD. AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY HIS IDEA THROUGH THE MENA REP FOUNDATION, UH, TO PRESENT TO US THE NEED FOR A FOOD INSECURITY BOARD IN HOUSTON, BECAUSE MANY OF THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ALREADY HAD ONE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU [03:35:01] A FEW MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ON SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS STEEN MAYOR TURNER AND RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSTON FOOD INSECURITY BOARD, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COMPATRIOTS, UH, ZHO GERE, LORENZO SALINAS, AND KATHY PEYTON, UH, WHO ARE FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ON THE HOUSTON FOOD INSECURITY BOARD. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, OUR DEDICATED BOARD HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR CITY. TODAY. TODAY I PRESENT TO YOU A BRIEF REPORT ON OUR JOURNEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE. TWO YEARS AGO, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WE ARE FORMED WITH A SINGULAR PURPOSE TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL POLICY SUGGESTIONS TO LESSEN FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR CITY. BORN DURING THE TAIL END OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME SHAPING OUR OBJECTIVES, ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THE MISSION THAT WOULD LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WITH SEVERAL OF YOU HERE LISTENING TO YOUR VISION FOR THE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE FUTURE. AS JUST A SAMPLE, CM PLUMBER HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THE NEED FOR CREATING COMMUNITY GARDENS AND CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND GROCERY STORES. CM EVANS SHABAZZ HAS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS INCREASING DISTRIBUTION IN HER DISTRICT THROUGH A FACILITIES APPROACH AND PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. CM KNOX HAD SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS ON LIFTING THE UNDERPRIVILEGED CM CAYMAN AND CM GALLEGOS PUSHED US TO WORK ON INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ALLEVIATE FOOD DESERTS. JUST TO NAME A FEW OF YOU ALONG WITH THE TERRIFIC IDEAS PUT FORWARD BY THE STAFF IN EACH COUNCIL OFFICE HAS BEEN REASSURING AND A GREAT REMINDER THAT OUR CITY IS WORKING AND DIRECTED TOWARDS HEADING OFF FOOD INSECURITY. WE ALSO, AS A BOARD, MET WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK, SECOND SERVINGS, NO KID HUNGRY TARGET HUNGER INTERFAITH MINISTRIES, THE YMCA, THE MCC, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, GROUPS, COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, AND SO MUCH MORE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND WHERE THEY WANTED TO SEE THE CITY MOVE. IN THE LATTER HALF OF OUR FIRST YEAR, WE WITNESSED THE CULMINATION OF OUR EFFORTS IN THE ADJUSTMENT OF PERMITTING POLICIES AND A SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION WITH MAYOR TURNER TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHING FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS OUR CITY OF HOUSTON. TO DATE, 48 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TRAINING MATERIALS AND ARE BEING ONBOARDED TO CREATE THOSE FOOD PANTRIES IN OUR CITY. AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WHIRLPOOL FURTHER PROPELLED OUR MISSION BY DELIVERING 14 COMPLIMENTARY FRIDGES TO LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND MORE ARE ON THE WAY. AS WE STAND TODAY, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE LOCAL NGO TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS PROGRAM, DRIVING IT TO COMPLETION ALONGSIDE OTHER PANTRIES AND WHIRLPOOL. OUR ENDEAVORS DID NOT STOP THERE. IN THE REMAINING TIME OF THIS YEAR, WE STRATEGICALLY SPLIT INTO TRIADS TO RESEARCH POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION. THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE WORKING BOARD REJECTING THE NOTION OF REINVENT, REINVENTING THE WHEEL. OUR TRIADS DELVED INTO DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES OF FOOD INSECURITY POLICIES IN VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES, IDENTIFYING SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS THAT COULD BE RETROFITTED AND PILOTED IN HOUSTON. THE POLICIES WE IDENTIFIED HAD TO MEET STRINGENT CRITERIA. THEY HAD TO BE LOW COST, THEY HAD TO BE BIPARTISAN, BROAD BASED, AND THEY HAD TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. THE TRIADS CAME BACK TO THE GENERAL BOARD WITH THREE KEY IDEAS, FINDING A COMPROMISE TO FEEDING THE HOMELESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, ADOPTING A DOUBLE UP BUCK STRATEGY AND PARKING BENEFIT ZONES. THE FIRST TWO IDEAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REFINED AND AND LORENZO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT RIGHT NOW. UH, AND A DETAILED, UH, PRESENTATION ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE SENT TO ALL OF YOU FOR REVIEW. BUT FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON, UH, THE, THE PARKING METER ISSUE, I PRESENT TO YOU, LORENZO SALINAS OF THE HOBBY CENTER. HELLO EVERYONE. UH, ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE ARE RESEARCHING IS THE CREATION OF A PARKING BENEFIT DISTRICT TO ADDRESS BOTH PARKING NEEDS AND THE CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY. UNDER THIS MEASURE, A SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE OF PARKING METER REVENUE GENERATED DURING THE HOURS OF 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM WILL BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S EFFORT IN COMBATING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH THE CREATION OF A FUND THAT CAN BE USED BY THE CITY, OR ALLOCATED TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZING THE PRESSING NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS. THE STRATEGY ENTAILS DIRECTING 60% OF THE NET METER REVENUES CALCULATED BEYOND A DEFINED THRESHOLD TOWARDS INITIATIVES AIMED AT ALLEVIATING FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN THE CITY. THE THIS ALLOCATION OF FUNDS NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES POSED BY FOOD INSECURITY, BUT ALSO UNDERSCORES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYING DIVERSE REVENUE STREAMS TO ADDRESS SOCIETAL ISSUES. BY DEDICATING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PARKING METER [03:40:01] REVENUE, THE PROPOSAL ENSURES A SUSTAINABLE AND CONSISTENT SOURCE OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES COMBATING HUNGER. THIS APPROACH ALIGNS WITH A BROADER VISION OF CREATING A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIVIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING, HIGHLIGHTING THE CITY'S RESPONSIVENESS TO A MULTIFACETED CHALLENGES FACED BY ITS RESIDENTS. MOREOVER, IT BRINGS ATTENTION TO THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE OF URBAN CHALLENGES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS BY LEVERAGING PARKING METER REVENUE. THIS INITIATIVE, UH, INITIATIVE EXEMPLIFIES A STRATEGIC AND LOCALIZED APPROACH TO FUNDING SOLUTIONS FOR CITYWIDE ISSUES. THIS APPROACH ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AMONG RESIDENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOSTERING SENSE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY. IT ALSO WILL BE A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY OTHER CITY DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO, THANK YOU EVERYONE. LORENZO SALINAS, IF, IF YOU TOOK ANYTHING AWAY FROM THAT BRIEF PRESENTATION, THAT'S YOU'LL ENJOY PAYING YOUR PARKING METER AND YOU'LL ENJOY PAYING THE FINES 'CAUSE IT COULD BENEFIT, UH, FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, THE NEXT PRESENTATION I GIVE OVER TO UR. YES. SO WE ARE TRIBE UH, NUMBER TWO, AND OUR TRIBE, UH, IS CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE EXPANSION OF THE DEVELOPED PROGRAM, ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE TO THEIR FAMILIES. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF A LOCALIZED IMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION CALLED THE URBAN HARVEST, UH, AND LOCAL FARMERS MARKET. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO LEVERAGE A BLEND OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND CITY RESOURCES TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND, UH, ITS REACH AND IMPACT BY UTILIZING FEDERAL DOLLARS, THE MATCH AND MATCHING THEM WITH THE CITY FUNDS. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO EMPOWER LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT NOT ONLY BOLSTERS LOCAL ECONOMIES, BUT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE BENEFITS OF FRESH, LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD, UH, FOOD EXTEND TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. AND THE DOUBLE UPS PROGRAM CARRIES THE RIPPLE EFFECT THAT RESONATES THROUGH THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL AGRICULTURE LANDSCAPE. BY BOLSTERING SALES AT FARMER'S MARKET, IT BECOMES A PIVOTAL FORCE IN SUPPORTING THE LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM. THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR THEIR PRODUCE NOT ONLY AMPLIFIES THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGES SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES. AS THE PROGRAM LOOKS TO EXPAND ITS FOOTPRINT INTO GROCERY STORES, THIS ECONOMIC BOOST HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REVERBERATE EVEN FURTHER, CREATING A WIN-WIN SCENARIO THAT UPLIFTS BOTH URBAN COMMUNITIES AND THE HARDWORKING FARMERS WHO CULTIVATE THE LAND. IN ESSENCE, THE OPS PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY A BEACON OF NUTRITION FOR FAMILY, UH, FAMILIES, BUT ALSO A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, FOSTERING A RESILIENT AND INTERCONNECTED FOOD ECOSYSTEM WITHIN AND BEYOND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE OF NUTRITION IN OVERALL WELLBEING, THE EXPANSION OF THE DOUBLES UP PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE BROADER VISION OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND EQUITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. EXTRA PRODUCE OBTAINED THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE SERVES AS A NUTRITIONAL LIFELINE FOR FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND FOSTERING A STRONG, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM'S APPROACH EXTENDS BEYOND FARMER'S MARKET, SEEKING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GROCER GROCERS TO ACCEPT DOUBLES UP BROADENING ITS IMPACT, AND MAKING NUTRITIOUS OPTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE IN VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN ESSENCE, THE DOUBLES UP PROGRAM NOT ONLY ADDRESSES IMMEDIATE FOOD NEEDS, BUT ALSO ACTS AS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE LASTING CHANGE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE JUST A SAMPLING OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN. THE IDEA IS NOT TO RECREATE THE WHEEL. THESE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS IDENTIFY HOW THEY WORK HERE. UM, LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024, INSPIRED BY A FRIEND OF MANY OF YOU HERE, THE LATE LARRY PAYNE, A TRUE SERVANT LEADER, AND A FRIEND OF HOUSTON, A FRIEND OF MINE. HE SAID TO ME AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF THIS BOARD, AFTER MAYOR TURNER, AND Y'ALL HAD BROUGHT THIS BOARD INTO THE EXISTENCE, THAT TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT ON FOOD INSECURITY, WE MUST MAKE IT A PART OF OUR CULTURE. CAR SAFETY BECAME A PART OF OUR CULTURE WITH SEAT BELTS. MASKS AT ONE POINT BECAME A PART OF OUR CULTURE DURING COVID. AND GUN SAFETY IS SLOWLY BECOMING A PART OF OUR CULTURE THROUGH THE MANDATORY DISTRIBUTION OF GUN LOCKS WITH PURCHASES, AND SO TOO MUST FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY. OUR VISION FOR 2024 INVOLVES COLLABORATING WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS HERE AT CITY HALL TO INTEGRATE FOOD INSECURITY CONSIDERATIONS INTO THEIR ACTIVITIES. [03:45:02] IN CONCLUSION, EXAMPLES FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EXPEDITING PERMITS FOR MOBILE FOOD VENDORS AND GROCERIES IN FOOD INSECURITY AREAS, FOOD INSECURE AREAS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UTILIZING WATER BILL INSERTS TO PROMOTE SNAP AND WIC BENEFITS. AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH TEXAS A AND M AGRILIFE TO INTRODUCE MONTHLY NUTRITION CLASSES. WE HOPE TO FURTHER A CONSTANT CULTURE AT CITY HALL IN EVERY DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY WAYS THE CITY CAN PUSH BACK AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY. IN CLOSING, WE EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS COURAGE, AND HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN DELVING INTO THESE SENSITIVE TOPICS. ALONG WITH EACH ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY AT CITY COUNCIL. TOGETHER WITH CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND DEDICATION, WE SHALL ACHIEVE MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A HEALTHIER AND MORE SECURE AND PROSPEROUS HOUSTON. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, AND I KNOW THAT THE WORK WILL CONTINUE AND, UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL PROVIDING US LEAST WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, UH, FOR, UH, TAKING THE LEAD IN INITIATING THE FOOD INSECURITY BOARD, UM, BUT JUST INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WORK. SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, [MAYOR'S REPORT] FEW MORE COMMENTS AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA. UH, YESTERDAY HERE AT CITY HALL WAS AN, WAS AN INCREDIBLE DAY WITH THE ASTRONAUTS. A MADIS TOO. UM, IT WAS JUST, UM, HIGHLY INSPIRATIONAL. I MEAN, VERY WELL ATTENDED. THE MESSAGES FROM ALL FOUR, UM, WERE POWERFUL. UM, THE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AMONGST ALL FOUR OF THE ASTRONAUTS, UM, WAS, UM, VERY APPARENT. UH, THE FIRST WOMAN THAT WILL BE ON THIS MISSION, UH, THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR, THE FIRST CANADIAN, SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. UH, SO, AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, DIRECTOR VANESSA, WE WAS HERE AS WELL, BUT JEFF'S AN INCREDIBLE DAY FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT HERE. UM, LEMME JUST TELL YOU, MISSED IT. I THINK OF THE EIGHT YEARS THAT WILL GO AS A HIGHLIGHT MM-HMM . AND THEN FOR THE KIDS WHO WERE HERE THAT ASKED QUESTIONS TO THEM, JESS, JUST, UH, JUST AN AMAZING, AN AMAZING MORNING IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. UH, THEN, UM, WE WENT OVER TO ELLERTON FIELD, UH, FOR THE T TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AVIATION INITIATIVE, UM, WHERE THEY ARE, UH, BUILDING THEIR, UH, AVIATION CENTER. UM, AND THEY STAND TO BE THE PREMIER, UH, UNIVERSITY FOR AVIATION. ALL THE STUDENTS THAT WERE THERE FROM STERLING, THEY HAVE THE AVIATION PROGRAM, UH, STUDENTS AT TEXAS SOUTHERN, THE FACULTY, UM, I MEAN, I GIVE A A LOT OF CREDIT TO, UM, UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, MARIO DIAZ AND, AND HIS TEAM. UM, AND IT WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. BUT THAT WAS TO, TO GO FROM THE ASTRONAUTS HERE AT, AT CITY HALL TO THE AVIATION PROGRAM WITH TEXAS SOUTHERN, UH, ELGEN FIELD. AND THEN IN THE BACKGROUND WAS THE SPACEPORT MAYOR PRO TEM. SO, QUITE FRANKLY, IN THIS CITY, WE ARE BUILDING VERTICAL INTEGRATION. UH, AND THAT IS FROM, UH, FROM OUR SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGES, TSU, AND THEN ONTO, UH, THE SPACE PORT. AND THEN YOU GOT, UM, NELSON JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. SO IT'S, IT'S A VERTICAL INTEGRATION WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE AND AVIATION, UH, AND AERONAUTICS. SO JUST AN AMAZING AND AMAZING DAY. UM, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, AGAIN, AND I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE A WRAP UP OF EIGHT YEARS. TIME WILL NOT ALLOW, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, UM, UM, BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE FUND BALANCE, UH, THAT WE WILL BE PASSING FORWARD IS $426 MILLION. UM, SO $426 MILLION WILL BE THE FUND BALANCE THAT IS ABOVE WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR. IF YOU CAN RECALL, IN JUNE, WE SAID ABOUT 402, 404, UH, BUT THE FUND BALANCE WOULD BE 426. UH, THAT IS, UM, MORE THAN WHAT'S BEEN LEFT IN QUITE SOME TIME. UM, AND SO FOR ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE LEAVING, UM, I THINK WE CAN TAKE, UM, UM, THAT'S A POSITIVE NOTE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WITH HERE AND MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S A POSITIVE NOTE, BUT A FUND BALANCE OF $426 MILLION. I, WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, LEMME JUST SAY, YES, IT'S A FINANCIAL CRISIS IF YOU DON'T MANAGE WELL, OKAY? BECAUSE IN EIGHT YEARS, IN EIGHT YEARS, [03:50:01] I CAME IN WITH A FINANCIAL CRISIS, BUT IN EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE NOT LAID OFF ONE PERSON, NOT ONE IN EIGHT YEARS. SO, YEAH, IT'LL BE A FINANCIAL CRISIS IF YOU BLOW IT, IF YOU BLOW IT, OKAY? UH, SO YOU HAVE TO MANAGE WELL, AND IF YOU MANAGE WELL, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT. I WILL SAY TO YOU THAT THE NET POSITION OF THE CITY WHEN WE CAME IN WAS NEGATIVE 95 MILLION. THE NET POSITION AS WE PREPARED TO LEAVE IS $7.6 BILLION. OKAY? SO FROM NEGATIVE 95 MILLION TO 7.6 BILLION, UH, IN THE BLACK AS WE, AS WE LEAVE. UM, SO FROM THE FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW, WORKING COLLECTIVELY, WORKING COLLECTIVELY, UM, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. UM, WE RESPECT TO, UM, BIG ITEMS, PENSIONS. WE, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T MOVE IT DOWN THE ROAD. WE DEALT WITH IT WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT DECREE. IF YOU ALL CAN RECALL, THEY SAID THEY'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE CONSENT DECREE SINCE 20, UH, 2010. WE END UP GETTING THAT DONE. UH, SO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS IN A LEAFS. I WAITED SOME 20 PLUS YEARS FOR THE ELITE MULTI SERVICE CENTER. UM, AND THAT IS DONE STATE OF THE ART, UH, COUNCILMAN MEMBER SHABAZZ ON SUNNYSIDE HEALTH CENTER. DONE. UH, AND NOW COUNCILMAN POLLETT, WE'VE TAKEN MEASURES TO BUILD, UH, THE, UH, FACILITY IN SHARPSTOWN TO VICE MAYOR PRO TE, UH, THE DR. SHANNON WALKER LIBRARY THAT WE CUT THE RIBBON ON ON SATURDAY. STATE OF THE ART, IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE OVER THERE, PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, UH, WITH PARKS AND OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. UM, BEFORE THE, UM, YEARS OUT AND ONE YEAR ALONE, WE WOULD'VE SUBSTANTIALLY ENHANCED 22 LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. AND ONE OF THEM WILL BE TAKING PLACE, UH, TODAY. UM, THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE LOVE YOUR PARKS WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE LOVE YOUR PARKS, AND THEN THE 50 50 PARKS WE WILL HAVE DONE BY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, 32 PARKS IN ONE YEAR ALONE, UH, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE, AN INCREDIBLE FEAT. UM, SO ACROSS THE BOARD, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAP WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, GREAT. WHEN WE RESPECT TO, UH, CRIME AND HOMICIDES, UH, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS THIS MORNING, UH, LIKE 124 FUEL HOMICIDES, THEN IN 2022, SOME 86 FUEL HOMICIDES. THEN IN 2020, NO, 124 HOMICIDES FUEL, THEN IN 2021, SOME 86 FUEL HOMICIDES. THEN IN 2022 LAST YEAR AND, UH, TWO YEARS AGO, THAT NUMBER WAS UP INTO THE 450 OR 60. BY THIS TIME, UH, NOW IT'S JUST LIKE 338, GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT THE 2019 LEVEL. SO WE'VE MADE, WE'VE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, UH, IN, ON THAT FRONT. AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN. SO, UH, UH, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, UH, COLLECTIVELY, UH, AND, UH, AND WE ARE, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. SO LET ME THANK YOU. LET ME THANK YOU ALL. UM, I, I WANTED TO WEAR MY LITTLE RED JACKET TODAY, UM, BECAUSE IN SO MANY FRONTS, UH, IT IS, UM, UM, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, YEAH. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, IT'S A CELEBR, IT'S A CELEBRATION. UM, ECCLESIASTES THIRD CHAPTER SAYS THAT THERE'S A TIME AND A SEASON, YOU KNOW, THINGS WILL COME TO AN END. AND SO NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY MAY BE, THERE IS A, THE SEASONS WILL CHANGE. AND WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE, UH, THEN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE WITH THOSE SEASONS, AND YOU MOVE FORWARD TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CAME IN TOGETHER AND, AND, WELL, MAYBE NOT TOGETHER, BUT ARE LEAVING TOGETHER. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND ROBINSON GALLS, UH, MARTIN KNOX, UH, CISNEROS. UM, LOOK, LET ME THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE. UM, DON'T HAVE TO AGREE ALL THE TIME, UM, BUT IT CAN BE FUN IN DISAGREEING. OKAY? SO LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE. BUT COLLECTIVELY, I THINK WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO THOSE WHO ARE RETURNING. UH, JACKSON POLLARD CASTEK, TATUM HUFFMAN, UH, MARTHA CASTEK [03:55:01] TATUM, UM, THOMAS ALCORN PLUMBER, SECRETARY. SECRETARY. OH, I DIDN'T, DIDN'T I CALL YOUR NAME? YOU SAID CASTEX TOO. DID I SAY CASTEX TRAINING VICE CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, CHURCH SECRETARY. THE CHURCH SECRETARY, UM, FOR RE RETURNING. UM, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME THANK, UH, Y'ALL, UH, FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WORKING TOGETHER. AND THEN, UH, I HAVE NO DOUBT, UH, THAT YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE THE WORK OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. AND, UM, PART OF THE GOOD NEWS THAT I TAKE AWAY IS THAT, UM, YOU'VE SAT IN THESE SEATS, YOU KIND OF KNOW THE ROPES, AND, UH, AND I THINK YOU ARE GONNA BE PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. AND SO LET ME, LET ME THANK YOU. BUT COLLECTIVELY, UH, IT IS BEEN INCREDIBLE. UH, I DO WALK AWAY, UH, SAYING THAT NO OTHER MAYOR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DEALT WITH FEDERAL SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS, UH, PENSIONS, CONSENT DECREE, SOCIAL CIVIL UNREST, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I NO OTHER. UM, AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE ALSO TAKE AWAY AND WHAT I SAID TO ANOTHER GROUP, UM, YOU HAVE TO BE, FROM WHAT I SAID BEFORE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AND I TELL KIDS ALL THE TIME, DO NOT ALLOW SOMEBODY TO TELL YOUR STORY OR TO, OR TO, UM, UH, TO TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VALUE IS. YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR VALUE. YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, THEN YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ASSURANCE. UM, THAT ALL IS WELL AND ALL IS GOOD. AND I DO THAT. AND SO I FEEL REAL GOOD. I DIDN'T, I HAD TO WEAR MY, MY RED TENNIS SHOES AND MY RED JACKET AND MY, AND MY HACK BECAUSE IT REFLECTS MY, IT REFLECTS MY SPIRIT. UM, AND, AND YESTERDAY, I MEAN, WITH THE ASTRONAUTS BEING PRESENT AND WITH WHAT THEY SAID WILL RESONATE WITH ME FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME. SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR JUST AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, UM, 50 50, I'VE COVERED THAT. UM, BARK IS, UM, IS IN, IS AT CAPACITY, UH, AND URGENTLY NEEDS THE PUBLIC'S HELP. SO IF YOU CAN ADOPT A FOSTER PET, PLEASE DO SO. AND THE ADOPTION CENTER IS OPEN AT 3,200 CARR STREET AND MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE. UM, NO, I THINK THAT COVERS IT FOR TODAY. OKAY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND I HOPE YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED, UM, THAT YOU WANT. UM, I WENT SHOPPING ON WHAT'S TODAY, WEDNESDAY. I WENT SHOPPING MONDAY NIGHT JELLY. NO, I WISH IT WAS A JELLY GATE. UM, I WENT BE CHEAPER. I WENT WITH MY DAUGHTER. BAD MOVE. I'M DONE. I'M DONE. I'M, YOU KNOW, I AM, I AM. I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY'S ECONOMY. I AM SALES TAX REP, , SO I'M DONE. ALRIGHT, HAVING SAID THAT, [CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM SECRETARY, LET'S GO TO THE AGENDA. UNDER THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY, ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10 HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. ITEM 11 HAS BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE ACCEPT WORK CATEGORY. ITEMS 12 THROUGH 14 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION UNDER THE PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS CATEGORY RELATION TO BIZ CATEGORY. ITEM 16, 20, 21 AND 23 HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. NEED A MOTION FOR ITEMS 15, 17, 18, 19 22, AND 24 CAST SIX T MOVED. SECOND ROBINSON. IT HAS BEEN MOVED IN SECONDED. DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSED AND GRANITE UNDER THE ORDINANCES CATEGORY. ITEM 44 HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED AND WILL BE CONSIDERED TRUTHFULLY, IF IT IS RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE MEETING, I MOVE SEPARATE PERCENT. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. IT'S NOT RECEIVED. OKAY, YOU CAN STILL EXPRESS. OKAY, I'LL WRONG ONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY, GO, GO ON [CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA] MADAM SECRETARY. ITEM REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. SINCE THE LIST HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED, THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED. SO I WILL REPEAT 'EM AGAIN. YEAH. ITEM 25, 26, 27, 29 [04:00:03] THROUGH 33. ITEM 35, 38, 41 THROUGH 43, 46, AND 47, 51, AND 52 AND 55. THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN ARE 25, 26, 27, 29 THROUGH 33, 35, 38, 41 THROUGH 43, 46, AND 47, 51, AND 52 AND 55. JUST NEED A VOTE ON THE BALANCE. UH, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OF OPPOSED AND GRANTED. OKAY, EXCUSE ME. ITEMS REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEM 11 NEEDS A MOTION MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN SECOND ON ITEM 11. DISCUSSION ON 11. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR, OPPOSE, AND GRANTED, ITEM 12 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TATU MOVED. SECOND. ROBINSON BEEN MOVED IN, SECONDED ON ITEM 12, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBAN ON 12. MAYOR, THIS IS, UM, A CONTRACT TO REPAIR OUR WATER. UH, IS THIS COMPANY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY OIG, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR SERVICE? NOPE. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 12? DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED GRANTING ITEM 12, ITEM 13 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATUM, MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM 13. COUNCILMAN KUBAN. MAYOR, I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION. IS THIS COMPANY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE OIG? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU. OKAY, UH, IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 13. ITEM 14 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX TATE. A MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. MAYOR, SAME QUESTION. SAME QUESTION. IS THIS COMPANY UNDER INVESTIGATION? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. COUNSEL. THANK YOU, MA'AM. IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANT NUMBER 14. ITEM 16. IT NEEDS A MOTION CAST. STATE MOVE. SECOND ROBINSON. IT MOVED. AND SECOND OF ITEM 16. DISCUSSION ON 16. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSE. GRANT ON 16. ITEM 20 NEEDS A MOTION. CASTEX, TA MOVE. SECOND. ROBINSON. COUNCILMAN PLUM ON 20. I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM. MAYOR, PLEASE. ITEM 20 SMITH, TAG BY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. TAG BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. YOU HAVE NEXT YEAR. ITEM 21 NEEDS A MOTION ON ITEM 21, ACTION ON 21. CAST T MOVE SECOND. ROBINSON MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM 21. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER TAG. ITEM 21 IS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCILMAN PLUMMER. ITEM 23 NEEDS A MOTION CAST SIX T TO MOVE SECOND ROBINSON. AND MOVED. AND SECOND ON ITEM 23. DISCUSSION ON 23. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM TOO. MAYOR. AND THESE ARE JUST THE CO-OPS. SO ITEM 23 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 25. I I'D LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM. ITEM 25 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. RULE ITEM 26. TAG THERE. ALRIGHT, ITEM 26 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. RULE ITEM 27, TAG. MAYOR, YOU GONNA TELL US WHY YOU'RE TAGGING ALL THESE ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBER COOPER? NO. NO SIR. I'M SORRY. NO, SIR. TEN ONE. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE YOU NEED TO VOTE ON. ITEM 29. DISCUSSION ON 29. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 29. UM, NO. COUNCIL [04:05:01] MEMBER JACKSON SHOW. COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON VOTING. NO, I'M A NO ALSO ON THAT SHOW. COUNCIL MEMBER NOX VOTING NO. ITEM PASSES. ITEM 30 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 30 ON DISCUSSION ON 30. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 30. ITEM 31 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 31. DISCUSSION ON 31. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 31. ITEM 32 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 32. DISCUSSION ON 32. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 32. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE ON ITEM 33. DISCUSSION ON 33. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANT ON 33. ITEM 35 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 35. DISCUSSION ON 35 IN FAVOR? I. OPPOSED? GRANT ON 35. ITEM 38 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 38. DISCUSSION ON 38TH. COUNCILMAN APPROACH? I'M CASH. TATE. I'M ON 38TH. THANK YOU MAYOR. I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE GETTING, UM, HAVING SOME EXPERTS TO LOOK AT OUR, UM, RATE FOR CENTER POINT. UM, ARE WE GONNA JUST DISCUSS THAT AT THE HEARING DATE OR DO WE HAVE ANY OF THAT INFORMATION? UM, PRIOR TO THE HEARING, UM, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE HAVING A RA OR, OR, OR LOOK AT THE RATES THAT CENTERPOINT, UM, IS LOOKING TO CHARGE AND GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT. WELL, I DO KNOW THAT THE A RA, UM, WORK WITH, UM, EXPERTS IN THAT FIELD. ALLENTON HALL, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S THE ATTORNEY THAT THE CITY'S BEEN UTILIZING FOR OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS ON UTILITY MATTERS. AND SO THEY CONSULT WITH, WITH ALLENTON HALL. AND THEN, UH, HE ALSO WORKS WITH OTHER EXPERTS AS WELL. SO YES, THE ANSWER IS YES. SO WHEN WE HAVE THE HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31ST, WE CAN EXPECT SOMEBODY TO GIVE US THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT THAT RATE. I, I AM SURE. OKAY. I MEAN, I WON'T BE HERE, BUT I'M SURE THAT THAT WILL TAKE . BUT I JUST WANT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHAT THE EXPECTATION WAS. YES. WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME, AN UPDATE FROM SOMEONE ON, ON THIS ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A GOOD DECISION. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, THANKS. OKAY, 38 IS SETTING THAT HEARING DATE. UM, DISCUSSION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION IS CONFIRMING THAT YES, THOUGH THERE WILL BE. YEAH. AND THEY ARE CONFIRMING THAT THERE WILL BE EXPERTS HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 38. ITEM 41 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 41, DISCUSSION ON 41. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION. VICE MAYOR FOR TM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, LIFT UP TANISHA HUDSPETH, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID IN THE ELECTIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT WE ARE, UM, DECLARING THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION FOR THIS ITEM, BUT TANISHA HUSBETH DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. WE GOT THOSE RESULTS IN, IN GOOD TIMING. I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE'S FAITH WAS RESTORED IN THE PROCESS AND THE ORGANIZATION WAS PREPARED. THERE WAS MINIMAL, UM, QUESTIONING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND, AND THE ELECTION. UM, AND REALLY, I, I JUST WANTED TO THANK HER FOR HER, HER FAITH AND THE, THE FAITH THAT WE HAVE NOW IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND HOW THIS PROCESS WAS RUN. UM, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IF WE WERE GONNA GET THOSE RESULTS IN GOOD TIMING OR IF PEOPLE WERE GONNA BE QUESTIONING THE RESULTS. UM, WE, WE, WE HAD ENOUGH PAPER, WE HAD ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND ALL OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF HER LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK THAT SHE DID TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD HAVE FAITH IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND OUR ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO, UM, TANISHA HUDSPETH AND HER ENTIRE TEAM AND EVERYONE THAT VOLUNTEERED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS WERE FAIR IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALCO. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR PROAM. I WILL, I WILL DEFINITELY, UM, HONOR THOSE WORDS. THERE WAS A GOOD EDITORIAL IN THE PAPER IN THE CHRONICLE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE ELECTION. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO TANISHA HUT SPIT. THAT WAS A BIG JOB IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SHE HAD TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT. UM, THIS IS THE ACTUAL [04:10:01] CANVASSING OF THE CORRECT OF THE ELECTION, AND I DO WANNA CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO WON. I WILL SAY I HAVE ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OTHERS ABOUT QUESTIONS OF RESIDENCY THAT HAVE COME UP. UH, MAYOR, THIS IS AN ISSUE, UM, THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT. I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERY, UM, ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO REPRESENTS HOUSTONIANS HAVE THEIR PRIMARY RE BE IN THE, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT, UM, BECAUSE IT DISAPPOINTS ME THAT I FEEL AS ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WHO HAS WON IN THE RUNOFF DOES NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ROBINSON. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO PICK UP ON THAT COMMENT AND PURSUE THAT WITH BOTH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND UNDERSTAND IF WE COULD GET A REPORT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO ENFORCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE LAW, IF THAT IS INDEED IN VIOLATION. IF THERE IS A CANDIDATE WHO, UH, IS NOW, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT AND HE IS IN THIS CASE ESTABLISHED TO BE A RESIDENT OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHAT WILL WE DO ABOUT IT? I, I LIKE THAT QUESTION ANSWERED, BUT IF NOT, IT CAN HANG IN THE AIR BECAUSE IT IS, UH, IT'S A SERIOUS MATTER. AND THERE'S, UH, YOU KNOW, ENFORCEABILITY THAT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ABOUT. THANK YOU. UM, PLEASE, PLEASE GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT. UH, I I'M NOT IN, I'M NOT IN POSITION TO SPEAK TO SPEAK TO IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, COUNCILOR, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR ICO. I, IS THIS A, A REQUIRED VOTE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS SINCE THE ELECTION? UM, SO THERE'S NO DELAYING THIS PENDING FURTHER, UM, FURTHER NOTIFICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING TO YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT? UM, THAT'S CORRECT. THE ELECTION CODE SETS OUT A, A TIMELINE. WE'RE UP AGAINST IT IN ORDER TO CANVAS THE ELECTION. WELL, AND I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO, TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO RAN. AND I DO THINK THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT I THINK WE, WE JUST, UH, NOT, NOT DEAL WITH IN THE FUTURE. SO I HOPE TO GET SOME, UM, I HAVE, HAVE, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE TALKED TO HIM. IT SEEMS VERY, UM, OFTEN THE TAX LAW AND THE, YOU KNOW, WHERE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS AND THE ELECTION LAW, SOMETIMES THE T THE THRESHOLDS ARE DIFFERENT. IT'S CONFUSING, IT'S CONFLICTING AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S WORTHY OF, OF TAKING A DEEPER DIVE INTO AND, UM, JUST ETHICS COMMITTEE. YEAH. SOMETHING PERHAPS ETHICS AND COUNCIL GOVERNANCE CAN, CAN TAKE UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ETHICS. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON 41, WHICH IS THE CANVASSING ITEM IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NO GRANTED ON 41 SHOW VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR VOTING, NO. MAYOR, APPROXIMATELY. MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO MAYOR, PRO VOTING KNOWN. UM, AND I'M OBLIGATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT QUOTE, THE CANVAS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON DECEMBER 9TH, 2023 HAS BEEN COMPLETED UNQUOTE. SO, SIR, I WAS OBLIGATED TO READ THAT STATEMENT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 42 IS AN ORDINANCE JUST NEED TO VOTE. WELL, ITEM 42, DISCUSSION ON 42. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 42. ITEM 43 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ITEM 43. DISCUSSION ON 43 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 43. ITEM 40. ITEM 40 OH TIME IS EXPIRED. ITEM 40. ITEM 46. ORDINANCE JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 46, DISCUSSION ON 46. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 46. ITEM 47 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 47, A DISCUSSION ON 47. DISCUSSION ON 47 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED, COUNCILMAN GGO GOES DIRECTLY TO THE TWO SPEAKERS THAT CAME YESTERDAY. YES. IN THE ITEM. YEAH. YEAH. I WAS SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T HIT THE BUTTON. . SORRY, I WAS BUSY READING ANOTHER ITEM HERE. . WELL, THA WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANT THANK THE MR. AND MRS. CARTER FOR COMING YESTERDAY, UH, WITH SMITH EDITION. UM, AND AGAIN, MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR WOODRUFF PARK. UH, IT WAS A PARK, UH, SMALL PARK THERE IN IN SMITH EDITION. AND AGAIN, LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, UH, SMITH EDITION IS A, UH, IN, IN THE AREA OF THE OLD HARRISBURG SETTLEMENT, UH, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 18 26, 10 YEARS BEFORE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, SO IT HAS A LOT OF OLD INFRASTRUCTURE. [04:15:01] UH, IT'S BEEN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN BEEN, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN, UH, UH, NEGLECTED IN REGARDS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UH, BUT I WANT TO THANK THE CARTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. UH, THEY ACTUALLY LIVE IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT, UH, THEY WERE RAISED THERE IN SMITH EDITION. UH, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE HERE YESTERDAY, UH, TO SPEAKING ON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THIS. AND, UM, SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS OF WOODRUFF PARK. I WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ALLEN, UH, FOR LOOKING INTO THIS EXPANSION OF WOODRUFF PARK. UH, SOME LAND CAME UP FOR SALE. WE MISSED OUT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY. UH, UH, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PARK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PARK, WE MISSED THAT OPPORTUNITY OF BUYING THAT PROPERTY. BUT THE LAND THAT CAME UP FOR SALE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PARK AS YOU'RE LOOKING TO THE PARK, UH, CAME UP FOR SALE. WE MOVED FAST AND WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT. UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EXPANSION OF WOODRUFF PARK. UH, AND I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT QUIN MARTINEZ, UH, WILL LOOK AT, UH, ADDRESSING THAT ALSO. UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, COUNSEL FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 51 IS AN ORDINANCE. YOU SEE THE VOTE 51 VOTE OH ON 51 VICE MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEK TATUM ON 51. THANK YOU MAYOR. VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. UM, CONCENTRATING ON ILLEGAL DUMPING AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE DEDICATED INVESTIGATORS. UH, WHEN WE STARTED OUR ILLEGAL DUMPING AND HOT TEAM IN, UH, DISTRICT A, WE HAD TO, UM, WORK WITH HPD AND REALLY, UM, DO A LOT OF THE LEGWORK ON OUR OWN. UM, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE HAVE THE 12 CAMERAS IN THE DISTRICT AND MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE, UM, VIDEO THAT WE PUT OUT WHERE WE CAUGHT THE PEOPLE ILLEGAL DUMPING. UM, AND THEN WE HAD A, UM, VENDOR WHO DID WORK WITH THE CITY THAT WE CAUGHT ILLEGALLY DUMPING. I THINK CAMERAS TELL A GREAT STORY AND FOR US TO, UM, HAVE 120 CONVERT CAMERAS ACROSS THE CITY TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL DUMPING, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE GET, UM, COPIES OF THE FOOTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS ILLEGAL DUMPING IN OUR CITIES. BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS, UM, CONTRACTOR MATERIAL. UM, AND WE NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR, UM, DUMPING IN OUR CITIES, COLLECTING FUNDS TO DISPOSE OF THIS MATERIAL AND THEN NOT TAKING IT TO, UM, THE PROPER PLACES FOR DISPOSAL. SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT US HAVING THESE CAMERAS AND THESE INVESTIGATORS SO WE CAN REALLY WORK TOWARDS ALLEVIATING THIS NUISANCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, IN, IN, IN THIS AREA. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND OUR DISTRICT F HOTSPOT TEAM IS, THEY HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL. UH, JUST, UH, TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. SO WITH THE 120 CAMERAS, HOW WILL THE ADDITIONAL SIX INVESTIGATORS INTERFACE WITH THE HOT TEAM AND THEN THE DASHBOARD THAT SOLID WASTE ALREADY MANAGES TO COLLECT DATA ON ILLEGAL DUMPING SPOTS? AND WILL THERE BE A TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION? YES. OR THIS IS JUST THE OUTPUT OF INFORMATION? NO, IT'S JUST GONNA BE TWO-WAY. OKAY. AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE INVESTIGATORS AS WELL? THAT'S CORRECT. TO COUPLE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING WITH OUR HOT TEAM? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND I'M GONNA EMPHASIZE, UH, REMEMBER WE CAME FORTH WITH ONE CLEAN HOUSTON MM-HMM . AND WE'VE INVESTED, UH, THREE YEAR PERIOD, $18 MILLION INTO ONE CLEAN HOUSTON TO A DEAL WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT AS SOME OF US SEGUE OFF, UH, THESE 120 COVERT CAMP CAMERAS WILL GO A LONG WAY. THE SIX ADDITIONAL PERSONS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN ADDITION TO, UH, THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE OUT THERE WORKING, UH, ALL UNDER THE APICES OF ONE CLEAN HOUSTON. SO, UH, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE HAS TO BE AUGMENTED BY THE CHANGE IN CULTURE, THE MINDSET OF PEOPLE JUST DUMPING TOO. UH, BUT THIS WILL, I THINK THIS WILL, THIS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. SO LEMME THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS AREA AND I'M VICE MAYOR TIM, CAST TEAM. LEMME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, ESPECIALLY. OKAY. UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN FAVOR OPPOSED? GRANTED ON 51, ITEM 52 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 52. DISCUSSION ON 52. DISCUSSION ON 52 IN FAVOR, GO AHEAD. IN FAVOR. OPPOSE GRANTED ON 52. ITEM 55 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE BILL. ITEM 55, DISCUSSION ON 55. DISCUSSION [04:20:01] ON 55 IN FAVOR. OPPOSE. GRANTED, THESE ARE TWO APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING. I THINK TOTALING SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $90 MILLION. THIS IS A HUGE ITEM. UH, OF COURSE WITH THAT, UH, THE GULFTON CATCHMENT AREAS ONE, AND THEN THE, THE N-H-H-I-P, THE I 45, UH, PROJECT. UM, BUT THESE ARE TWO, THIS IS A, A BIG APPLICATION, UH, THAT GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE ARE SEEKING. SO THIS IS, THIS IS HUGE. HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET IT AND IT WILL GO A LONG WAY, UM, TO BENEFIT IN BENEFITING OUR CITY. SO KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED. NEXT ITEM, [MATTERS HELD] ITEM 66 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE ON ITEM 66, DISCUSSION ON 66. DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? NO. A DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ON 66. THANK YOU. JUST CLARIFYING LANGUAGE. SO IN ADDITION TO REMOVING THE SUNSET, WE'RE ALSO EXTENDING THE TIMELINE, JUST REMOVING THE SUNSET, JUST REMOVING THE SUNSET FUNDS WILL CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNT. THAT IS CORRECT. MM-HMM . THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING. THAT'S IT. KNOX. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO THIS, UH, ITEM IS NOT REALLY DUE FOR SUNSET UNTIL MAY OF NEXT YEAR. AND SO THE ADMINISTRATION HERE HAS PUT THIS ON AHEAD OF TIME TO, I GUESS DO THE, UH, INCOMING ADMINISTRATION A FAVOR. UM, I WAS OPPOSED TO THIS ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I, IT, IT'S A, IT'S LIKE THE RAIN TAX. IT'S A FEE, BUT IT'S STILL A TAX. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, IS PART OF OUR TAX BASE. IT'S PART OF THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT YOU PAY, THE PROVISION OF SOLID WASTE MATERIAL OR THE REMOVAL OF SOLID WASTE MATERIAL. UH, SO I'M OPPOSED TO THIS FEE BECAUSE WE CANNOT, WE, WE DON'T ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO OPT INTO PURCHASING THE THE CAN FOR THEMSELVES AND THEN REPLACING IT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE LATER ON WHEN THEY NEED IT OR LEASING IT FROM US. WE GIVE THEM NO OPTION. UH, AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT, UH, DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. SO I'M VOTING NO ON THIS ONE. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU MAYOR. I AM PROUD THAT I WAS ABLE TO, UM, SUBMIT AN AMENDMENT IN REGARDS TO THE LEASE OF THE GARBAGE CANS AND, AND, AND THE RECYCLING BINS. I MEAN, IF YOU, IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE EXPENSE THAT SOLID WASTE HAS TO GO, UH, TO DELIVER A GARBAGE CAN OR A RECYCLING BIN TO DEVELOPERS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING FOR NEW GARBAGE CANS AND RECYCLING BINS. AND THAT'S AN EXPENSE THAT SOLID WASTE IS HAVING TO EAT IN REGARDS TO MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND I KNOW I HAVE RECEIVED MANY CALLS IN MY OFFICE FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE UPSET THAT THEIR TRASH IS NOT BEING PICKED UP ON A TIMELY MANNER. THEY'RE USED TO, IF THEIR TRASH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PICKED UP ON A WEDNESDAY, THEY EXPECT THE TRASH TO BE PICKED UP ON A WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE THEY'RE CALLING ON THURSDAY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OUR EQUIPMENT HAS AGED, OUR EQUIPMENT IS BREAKING DOWN. OUR SOLID WASTE DRIVERS ARE BEING HIRED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND WE NEED FEES LIKE THIS IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IN REGARDS TO THE LEASE FOR OUR RECYCLING BIN AND OUR GARBAGE BIN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT ADDS UP TO WHERE WE CAN MAYBE BUY AN EXTRA GARBAGE TRUCK THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED BY THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THIS, WHEN THE CITY IS NEEDING MORE REVENUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ICO. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, I MEAN, WE CAN DANCE ALL AROUND. THIS ALL WE WANT. UM, THIS IS A, A, AN ONGOING PROBLEM AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS. SO THIS $4.7 MILLION IS IMPORTANT, UM, FOR, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ONE. ONE THING I DID WANNA BRING UP, MAYOR, I'VE BEEN ASKED BY SOME PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING MORE THAN ONE RECYCLE BIN, UM, WHICH OTHER CITIES DO. I'M ALL FOR THAT. LIKE I SAY, WITH THE COMPOSTING STUFF, HAVING LESS TRASH IN THAT BLACK BIN IS, IS WHERE WE WANNA GO. SO I THINK THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. UM, I'D LIKE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A GILLION PEOPLE THAT WANNA DO IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE A HUGE, I MEAN, THEY'RE GONNA PAY FOR IT. UM, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT. IF I WERE, IF I WERE AROUND, I WOULD DO IT. THANK YOU. BECAUSE, UH, YEAH, THERE ARE MANY THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE [04:25:01] OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE THAN ONE. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OF 66 IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? OPPOSED SHOW? COUNCILMAN OXMAN? NO. SHOW. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN PECK? NO. SHOW. COUNCILMAN PECK VOTING? NO. THANK YOU. DI PASSES. THANK YOU, PEG. UH, HOFFMAN AND KNOX. ITEM. CARRIE. NEXT. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 67 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WELL, ITEM 67, DISCUSSION ON 67. DISCUSSION ON 67 IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? GRANTED. NO ON 67. SO MAYOR, APPROACH JIM MARTIN VOTING, THOUGH WE FROM 2 MILLION TO 5 MILLION. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, ITEM 68 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED TO VOTE. WE'RE ON ITEM 60. WE'RE ON ITEM 68. DISCUSSION ON 68. DISCUSSION ON 68. IN FAVOR. OPPOSED HUFFMAN. NOW. OPPOSED? SO, HUFFMAN, KNOX, MARTIN, KUBOSH, AND PAT VOTING NO TO JINGLE BELL. JINGLE BELL. JINGLE ALL THE WAY. PAULA, NO. PASSES. SIDE NINE, . OKAY. YOU THINK I DID? STAY AWAY FROM THE SEAT. I'M JACK . OKAY. GOOD DEAL. WAY TO GO, ED. AND AFTER THAT IT HAS PASSED. IT HAS PASSED. OH, WELL THANK, ARE YOU JOINING ME IN A SOLO? OH, I'M NOT JOINING YOU IN A SOLO, BUT I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT ONE OF THE, UH, VENDORS, ALEX NAVARRO MUSIC. UM, MANY OF YOU ENJOYED HIS MUSIC, UH, AND HIS TEAM AT THE OPENING OF THE ALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. UM, HIS MOM IS STILL A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT F. SO, UH, UH, SHOUT OUT TO HIM FOR HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY HIS TALENT, UH, IN THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. JACKSON? THE OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO COUNCIL. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO. BEFORE WE GET, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I'M GLAD THIS PASSED. AND, AND IT'S, UM, THIS PROGRAM EMPLOYS SOME OF OUR LEADING LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND, UM, FROM MAJOR, OUR ORCHESTRAS AND LEADING, UM, PREMIER JAZZ MUSICIANS IN MAKING A VERY STRONG AND WORLD CLASS IMPRESSION ON OUR VISITORS. THANK YOU. AND IT REALLY DOES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE AIRPORTS, THEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY SOOTHING. REFRESHING. AND IT HAS ADDED TO OUR FIVE STAR, UH, FOUR STAR STATUS. SO, UM, BUT I, I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT VOTED, UH, THAT VOTED NO. UH, ITEM CARRIES. BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN THEY, WHEN Y'ALL VOTED NO, Y'ALL DIDN'T REALLY MEAN IT. UM, WE ARE GONNA LEAVE THE VOTE OPEN THOUGH, IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. EDWARD, WANT TO GET WITH THE SPIRIT, YOU KNOW, HOLIDAY SPIRIT. UH, COUNCILMAN? OH, THE SHA COUNCIL MEMBER ERIC SHAAR FOR RENDITION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO, UM, MAKE A NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA DIDN'T VOTE NO TILL YOU STARTED SINGING. . THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, ITEM 69 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. WE ON ITEM 69. COUNCILMAN PERMAN. 69. THANK YOU, MAYOR TURNER. AND, UM, I NEED TO HAVE A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS STILL ON THIS ITEM. UM, I SENT SOME QUESTIONS BACK IN WITH LIKE SEPTEMBER. STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY QUESTIONS, THE COMMUNITY QUESTIONS, UM, THAT WERE SENT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, REGARDING THIS. STILL NEED MORE INFORMATION. SO I LIKE TO TAG THIS ITEM JUST TO GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A COUPLE MORE MEETINGS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. ITEM 69 IS BEING TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PLUM. SHE WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK. YEP. RIGHT? SHE WASN'T HERE THE WEEK BEFORE. COUNCILMAN PLUM, THE RECORD CONCERN. WERE YOU HERE ON THE, ON THE 13TH? MM-HMM . IF YOU WERE HERE ON THE 13TH, THEN YOU CANNOT TAG IT. OKAY. I DON'T REMEMBER. BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'LL LAST WEEK, LET'S CHECK YOUR, OH, LAST WEEK. NO, I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK. NO, I HAD THE FLU. YEAH, I WAS, I HAD THE, I HAD THE FLU. I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK, THE WEEK BEFORE THIS, THE SIXTH IT CAME UP. [04:30:01] WELL, TODAY'S THE 20TH. HE CAME UP THE SECOND TIME AND YOU TAGGED IT, RIGHT? OH, SO IT WAS ON THE SIXTH. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT WAS ON THE SIXTH. SHE CANNOT TAG. I REALLY DON'T CARE. OKAY. ITEM IS TIME BY COUNCILMAN EMPLOYMENT. NEXT ITEM. YES. WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT TAG BY PLUMBING? OH, 69 IS TAGGED BY PLUMBING. NEXT ITEM. ITEM 70 IS AN ORDER. JUST NEED A VOTE. ONE ITEM 70, DISCUSSION ON 70. DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER TAG. ITEM 71 IS AN ORANGE ONE. SECOND ITEM 70 IS TAG BY PLUMBER. 71. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT OF 71. YES. AND AMENDMENT IS ON THE TABLE. ARE WE TAGGING? YOU? TAGGING? SO THE DISCUSSION IS ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTS. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT. SO THE DISCUSSION IS ON THE AMENDMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX ON THE AMENDMENT. OH, LEMME JUST WAIT. SINCE THIS THE AMENDMENT, UM, VICE MAYOR, PRETEND YOU WANT TO LAY OUT YOUR AMENDMENT. I DO. UH, MAYOR, UH, FOR ITEM 71, UM, COUNSEL, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UM, IN OUR, UM, BRIEFING THAT THESE FOUR AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE REVENUE AGREEMENTS, UM, THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE A CLAUSE IN THEM THAT STATES, UH, THEY CAN BE TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE. UM, AND THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ASKED TO CITY LEGAL AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE THIS TERMINATION CLAUSE, HOW IS THAT FAIR? UM, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS FAIR FOR THESE FOUR AGREEMENTS TO BE THE ONLY REVENUE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE A CLAUSE IN IT THAT SAYS THAT THEY CAN BE TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE. UM, I KNOW THAT OUR GOODS AND SERVICES CONTRACTS, UM, THIS IS STANDARD IN THOSE CONTRACTS. UM, BUT THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR CONTRACTS IN OUR REVENUE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE A CLAUSE THAT SAY THEY CAN BE TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE. UM, CURRENTLY IN THESE, UH, REVENUE AGREEMENTS, THERE IS A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CAUSE. UM, AND THAT'S IN EVERYONE'S AGREEMENT. AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THE AGREEMENTS BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD. IF I HAD AN AGREEMENT AT THE AIRPORT, I WOULD WANT MY AGREEMENT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S AGREEMENT AT THE AIRPORT. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY THESE FOUR CONTRACTS HAVE A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. UM, IF IT WAS A, AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR, WE WERE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BUT I THINK THAT IT IS PRUDENT UPON US TO CORRECT THIS. UM, AND EVERY REVENUE CONTRACT SHOULD READ THE SAME. UM, SO MY AMENDMENT IS TO TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE, UM, ON ALL FOUR OF THE SAID, UH, REVENUE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE LISTED, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR REVENUE, UM, CONTRACTS ARE CONSISTENT ACROSS OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM. MAYOR, POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. REAL QUICK, DOES THE RECORD REFLECT THAT ON DECEMBER 6TH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER WAS ABSENT? I KNOW SHE WAS ABSENT ON THE 13TH, BUT WAS SHE ALSO ABSENT ON THE SIXTH? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT IF SHE WAS NOT ABSENT ON THE SIXTH, THEN 69 AND 70 HAVE TO COME TO THIS BODY. WE ARE, WE ARE CHECKING OKAY. ON THAT. AND, AND THAT'S PERTINENT TO 71, IF IT'S SOME INDEED. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER DOES HAVE, UM, A, A TAG IN MIND. I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND DISCUSS IT. OKAY. [04:35:01] OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE ON 71 AS AMENDED, UH, COUNCIL VICE MEMBER TIM, IS PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT. IT'S AN AMENDMENT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES ACCEPT. UM, WE ARE NOUN TO COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M GONNA OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CONTRACT THAT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT HAS EVER HAD WITH A, UH, CONVENIENCE CLAUSE IN IT. IN FACT, THE PREVIOUS VENDORS, THE PAPA'S FAMILY HAD ONE ON THEIRS AND BEFORE THEM, UH, AND UNITED AIRLINES, THEIR VENDORS HAVE THE SAME THING. THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT IS ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT TRUE, UH, DAMAGING TO THE CITY BECAUSE AS I RECALL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED BEFORE THEY'RE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL. AND, UH, AS I'M, AS I RECALL, WE HAVE A STANDING PRACTICE OF NOT ENGAGING IN NEGOTIATIONS OF CONTRACT AROUND THE HORSESHOE. THIS CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COUNSEL AND SIGNED BY THE PARTIES, AND THEY'VE AGREED TO IT. THIS AMENDMENT SURRENDERS THE RIGHT OF THE CITY TO, UM, UH, TO, UH, CLOSE A CONTRACT FOR CONVENIENCE. WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN? WHAT, WHAT IS THE VENDOR GIVING UP IN RETURN FOR US TO REMOVE THIS? BY DOING THIS? THE CITY BASICALLY GIVES UP ITS RIGHTS AS LANDLORD AND I, I THINK THIS, THIS AMENDMENT IS A BAD IDEA. UH, ON MANY LEVELS. IT SERVES NO USEFUL PUR PURPOSE FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON. IT IN FACT, HAMPERS OUR ABILITY TO ADMINISTER OR FOR THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO ADMINISTER THESE CONTRACTS. UH, BECAUSE A, A THREAT OF CANCELLATION BY CONVENIENCE IS A MOTIVATOR FOR THE VENDORS TO PERFORM WELL. AND BY REMOVING THAT, WE REMOVE THAT STICK, IF YOU WILL, IF WE EVER HAVE TO USE IT. FURTHERMORE, AT SOME POINT IN THE CITY'S FUTURE, UM, SOME BETTER DEAL MAY COME ALONG THAT WOULD BENEFIT US AND WOULD, YOU KNOW, COVER THE COST OF WHATEVER LAWSUIT THAT WAS INVOLVED AND WOULD STILL BENEFIT THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT A GREATER DEGREE. SO, UM, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS, UM, THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT, UH, FOR THOSE REASONS, I JUST THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA. LEMME SEE. I'VE GOT SOME NOTES HERE. OH, YEAH. SO IT WAS NEGOTIATED THROUGH REGULAR PROCEDURE, APPROVED BY COUNSEL, SIGNED BY THE PARTIES. THAT WAS IT AGREED TO. IT'S A, WE'RE RENEGOTIATING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT PERHAPS THE ATTORNEY CAN, CAN ADVISE US HOW THIS IS NOT A, UH, RENEGOTIATION OF TERM OR CONDITION BECAUSE THAT IS IN THERE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, UH, THE HISTORY OF, OF, OF NOT NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS ON THE HORSESHOE. ALL THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERING. SO I'LL BE VOTING NO, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL. IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT PUT THE CITY IN A LITIGIOUS SITUATION. THESE ARE 10 YEAR DEALS. LET ME ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS. UH, COUNCILMAN KNOX THAT YOU MISSTATED. THIS IS A REVENUE CONTRACT. AND WHEN IT COMES TO CONVENIENCE, THAT IS NOT IN THE OTHER REVENUE CONTRACTS DEALING HERE. IT'S ONLY TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. AND YOU, YOU ARE BRINGING UP A PARTICULAR VENDOR. NOW, IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHY WE, WHY A PARTICULAR VENDOR'S NAME KEEPS COMING UP. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT THE CONTRACT HAVE THE CONTRACT FOR 10 YEARS. SO WHY ARE WE, WHY, WHY ARE PEOPLE BRINGING UP A PARTICULAR VENDOR AS IF, IF A CONTRACT IS TERMINATED, THIS VENDOR IN THIS CASE, PAPA'S IS GOING TO RECEIVE IT. BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT. I, I, I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU . AND THAT BEGS SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS NOW. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE AIRPORT NOW HAVE A CONTRACT FOR 10 YEARS. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE OBJECTING TO WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE ARE SPEAKING FOR ONE VENDOR DOOR. PAPAS AS IF THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE AND POMPOUS IS GOING TO BE GIVEN THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF OUR PROCUREMENT RULES. BE VERY CAREFUL HERE. BE VERY CAREFUL. AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS AROUND THIS TABLE. BE VERY CAREFUL. LET ME SAY THIS. NUMBER TWO, YOU DO NOT WANT TO PUT THE [04:40:01] CITY IN A LITIGIOUS SITUATION, BUT THE CITY WILL BE OUT OF ITS POCKETS FOR MILLIONS. AND THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN HERE. THIS SIMPLY AS VICE MAYOR, UH, CAST TAYLOR HAS SAID, PUTS EVERYTHING THE SAME. THEN WHAT IS BEFORE YOU WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT SIMPLY SAYS THE COUNCIL MUST THEN RATIFY IF THE, THE DIRECTOR SHOULD TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE. NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION POINT OF VIEW, I THOUGHT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE THAT. I THOUGHT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE THAT BECAUSE FOR 80 YEARS WHAT I'VE HEARD COUNCIL, COUNCIL WANTED MORE SAY MM-HMM . SO I PERSONALLY THOUGHT AS THE MAYOR, THAT COUNCIL WOULD PREFER TO LOOK AT SOMETHING WHEN A MAJOR CONTRACT WAS BEING TERMINATED. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THOUGHT THAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD, MEDIA INCLUDED, WOULD WANT THAT TRANSPARENCY. 'CAUSE WHAT I KEEP HEARING FROM PEOPLE USING THE BUZZ WORD, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. AND THEN WHEN YOU OFFER TRANSPARENCY, CERTAIN PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. AND IT'S, AND, AND I WAS GETTING FEEDBACK THAT MAYBE COUNCIL DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY, WHICH BEGS, I MEAN, I MEAN, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT IT? BUT HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, IF COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT IT, NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM. BUT PUT IT, THESE, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT ON PAR WITH THE OTHERS TERMINATION FOR CAUSE, THAT'S WHAT THE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM IS OFFERING. I LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, LOOK, I'M NOT FROM AN ADMINISTRATION POINT OF VIEW. I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO IMPOSE, UH, TO HAVE COUNSEL HAVE THE FINAL STATE OF COUNSEL DOESN'T WANT IT. WELL, MAYOR, LET, LET ME CLARIFY. IT IS NOT THAT COUNCIL DIDN'T WANT IT. I, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS FAIRNESS. I WANT EVERYONE'S CONTRACT TO BE THE SAME. AND IF COUNT, IF WE DECIDE THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WHERE THOSE CONTRACTS DO COME TO COUNCIL, THEN IT SHOULD BE ON EVERYBODY'S CONTRACT. AND I'M, I'M, SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS FAIRNESS, AND I'M GOOD WITH THAT. WHATEVER WE DO, LET IT BE DONE FOR EVERY REVENUE CONTRACT IN THE CITY. AND, AND, AND, AND, AND MY, UM, MOTIVATION FOR BRINGING THE INITIAL ITEM BEFORE YOU, WHAT'S THE FAIRNESS ITEM AND THE TRANSPARENCY ITEM. SO I'M, I'M, I'M WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT. EITHER THE AMENDMENT BEFORE THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED I A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT. AND IT IS FAIRNESS. IT IS FAIRNESS. BUT I, BUT, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, LET ME CAUTION EVERYONE NOT TO BE TALKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR VENDOR AS IF THAT VENDOR IS GOING TO BE THE RECIPIENT IF A CONTRACT IS TERMINATED. BECAUSE THAT, BECAUSE IF A, IF THE CONCESSION IS LET GO, THE WHOLE UNIVERSE HAS THE RIGHT TO APPLY. SO YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT A PARTICULAR VENDOR AROUND THIS TABLE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. WELL, YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT. LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF FAIRNESS, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TIM, I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. I THINK IT IS FAIR. AND I, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT KEEPS US OUTTA LITIGATION. UM, AND ARTURO, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS ANY OF THIS, CERTAINLY FEEL FREE AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE. WELL, THE, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADDRESS, UH, I GUESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS THAT THE VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM IS CORRECT THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL CONTRACTS, GOODS AND SERVICES IN WHICH THERE IS A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. THE AIRPORT CONCESSION CONTRACTS, THE PRIOR GENERATION OF CONTRACTS, SOME ARE STILL IN EXISTENCE AND OTHERS HAVE EXPIRED. AND THE FOUR HERE HAVE REPLACED THOSE. ALL OF THOSE, THE PRIOR GENERATION HAD NO TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. YOU COULD ONLY, UH, TERMINATE FOR CAUSE. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MAYOR ICO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I ASKED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM. UH, AND, AND THEN AFTER SEEING THE AMENDMENT, BECAUSE I WAS DEFINITELY GETTING SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION, I ASKED, SO, SO INSERTING THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORITY, UH, WAS TOLD, WELL, THESE FOUR CONTRACTS HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE CITY COUNCIL INVOLVED IN THAT. OKAY? SO I ASK, WHY DO JUST THESE FOUR CONTRACTS HAVE [04:45:01] A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE? AND I WAS TOLD BY THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THERE WAS A DUTY FREE COMPANY THAT DID NOT HAVE ONE THAT THEY WISHED WOULD'VE HAD ONE. I THINK IT WAS A MUTUAL SITUATION. AND SO THE NEW POLICY WAS TO PUT IN A CONVENIENCE CONTRACT. AND I ASKED SO THAT ITS FUTURE, I KNOW THIS IS SHORT TIME ADMINISTRATION, BUT THAT IS THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT IF THERE WERE MORE REVENUE CONTRACTS COMING, MORE CONCESSION CONTRACTS COMING, THAT THERE WOULD BE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. AND THE ANSWER WAS YES. SO THIS SEEMS LIKE A REVERSAL OF, OF THAT. AND, AND, AND PARDON ME, AND I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND PARDON ME IF I MISCONSTRUED WHAT WAS SAID, BUT THAT IS NOT CORRECT. I'M THE ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. AND I NEVER AGREED TO THAT. OKAY. WELL, SO THAT'S, SO LET'S BE VERY CLEAR. THERE IS NO REVERSAL. THERE WAS NO REVERSAL. 'CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN I FOUND THAT THE CONVENIENCE WAS IN THERE, I OBJECTED TO THAT. SO THERE WAS, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN AGREEMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION. WELL, WERE YOU AWARE THAT THE CONVENIENCE WAS IN IT THE FIRST NO, I WAS NOT. WHEN WE, WHEN WE DID IT, I WAS NOT. I WAS NOT. AND IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULD HAVE SAID NO, I WAS NOT. OKAY. WELL, JUST, JUST, UM, WHEN WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN THESE MATTERS, MAYOR, AND, AND I DO, I ASK QUESTIONS OF EVERYBODY. SO WHEN I SAW THE AMENDMENT, I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE MAYBE IF, IF, MAYBE, IF THE RATIONALE WAS TO HAVE CITY COUNCIL INVOLVED BECAUSE IT WAS A CONVENIENT, I MEAN, I ULTIMATELY THINK IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY. UM, BUT, BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A LITTLE LOGIC IN, WELL, CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE INVOLVED IF THERE IS A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS. BUT THEN WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, WHAT I'LL SAY NOW IS IF NO CONTRACT'S GONNA HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, NO REVENUE CONTRACTS ARE GONNA HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, THEN TO BE FAIR AND CONSISTENT, YOU HAVE TO GO IN AND PUT CITY COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT IN IN EVERYBODY, EVERY LAST ONE. SO ANYWAY, I JUST, I, I THINK THIS IS A MATTER FOR, FOR MORE, UH, DISCUSSION. I, I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL FOUR OF THESE, UH, REVENUE CONTRACTS, NOT MENTIONING ANOTHER VENDOR. I ASKED QUESTIONS AND, AND I, I ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THE FIRST GO ROUND ON THIS THING. AND, AND, AND, UM, THESE ARE TRICKY. THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN THESE. I ASKED, HAS A DIRECTOR EVER PULLED BACK IN THE LAST 20 YEARS? HAS A DIRECTOR EVER COME IN AND PULLED BACK ONE OF THESE CONCESSIONS? AND THE ANSWER WAS, NO. DIRECTORS DON'T JUST GO IN THERE WILLY-NILLY AND PULL BACK CONTRACTS. I MEAN, THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS. UM, ANYWAY, I I, I, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING A GREAT RESPECT FOR VICE MAYOR PROAM AND UNDERSTAND OUR ARGUMENT. BUT FOR THESE REASONS, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. COUNCILMAN P*****K. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I LOOKED AT THIS CLOSELY AS WELL. I ACTUALLY, WHEN I SAW IT THE FIRST TIME, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT WAS COMING BACK TO COUNCIL. BECAUSE AS AN ELECTED LEADER, I WANT TO HAVE AS MUCH SAY SO IN THE PROCESS AS POSSIBLE. UM, THE DIRECTORS CAN COME AND GO. AND SO FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE THE, SO COUNCIL COMES TO THOSE, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SOLE, UH, DISCRETION OVER IF A, IF A CONTRACT STAYS OR NOT, THAT WE ALL APPROVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. UM, I WAS GLAD TO, TO SEE THE INITIAL LANGUAGE WHEN THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM BROUGHT FORTH HER LANGUAGE. I THOUGHT IT MADE IT EVEN BETTER BECAUSE I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX LAST WEEK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE POWERS. RIGHT? WELL, THIS TAKES OUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE, BECAUSE NOW IT STAYS IN THE HANDS OF THE DIRECTOR. THEY ONLY CAN TERMINATE FOR CAUSE. SO IT NEVER COMES BACK TO THIS BODY. THAT'S A MOOT POINT. NOW, UM, WHEN YOU HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE IN ANY CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT WE APPROVE AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE, AND THEN THERE IS ONE PERSON MAYBE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE, THE MAYOR THAT CAN MAKE A DECISION FOR CONVENIENCE. THAT'S BROAD. THAT'S EXTREMELY BROAD. WHEN YOU HAVE IT FOR, CAUSE AT LEAST YOU HAVE TO PUT FORTH SOME BASIS FOR IT, WHICH GIVES US PROTECTION, HAS MUCH MORE TRANSPARENCY, AND IT'S FAIR ALL AROUND. THE OTHER MATTER IS IF THE PAST CONTRACTS, SOME THAT ARE EXPIRED AND SOME THAT ARE STILL ONGOING, THAT ARE, UM, REVENUE CONTRACTS DON'T HAVE THIS LANGUAGE, THEN IT SHOULD BE STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD. AND I THINK AS A BODY GOING FORWARD, IF WE SEE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, WHICH THIS CONVENIENCE CLAUSE DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS A BODY TO CHANGE IT, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ELECTED FOR. SO I THINK THIS AMENDMENT [04:50:01] IS STRONG. I THINK IT ACTUALLY MAKES THE ITEM BETTER. IT TAKES US OUT OF THE ISSUE OF IS IT ADMINISTRATIVE VERSUS LEGISLATIVE AND KEEPS IT IN THE HANDS OF THE DIRECTOR. UH, BUT IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE DIRECTOR CAN'T JUST FOR ANY REASON, UNDER THEIR OWN SOLE DISCRETION FOR CONVENIENCE, BE ABLE TO TERMINATE CONTRACTS THAT, THAT ARE, UM, HARD TO GET. AND WE PUT A LOT OF WORK AS A BODY LOOKING INTO 'EM TO ENSURE THAT GOOD VENDORS GET THEM. SO I APPLAUD YOU ON YOUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS. YES. I WOULD LIKE EVERYTHING TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND WE CAN VOTE ON IT. SO WE HAVE THE FINAL SAY. BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU THINK THIS IS NECESSARY. UH, SO THAT IT DOES TAKE AWAY THE, UM, THE ISSUE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE VERSUS LEGISLATIVE. AND I COMMEND YOU ON, UH, GOING INTO THE DETAILS, HAVING REAL BRIEFINGS WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, UH, TO COME WITH THE LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. AND BEAR MIND, WE ARE, UH, THE, UH, CONVERSATION IS ON VICE MAYOR PRO'S AMENDMENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HOFFMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL, THIS BODY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE CITY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATING THE CONVENIENCE TERMINATION LANGUAGE, WHICH ALREADY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED UPON. YOU KNOW, IT WEAKENS THE RIGHTS OF THE CITY IN FAVOR OF GIVING RIGHTS TO THE VENDOR. SO THIS ONLY BENEFITS THE VENDOR. THIS DOESN'T BENEFIT THE CITY. UM, AND SO THE CITY WOULD BE GIVING AWAY THOSE RIGHTS. AND, UM, RESPECTFULLY, I'D LIKE TO TAG THE AMENDMENT. CAN I TAG THE AMENDMENT? ARE YOU RULING IT OUT OF ORDER? I AM RULING IT OUT OF ORDER. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR ON THAT SECOND. HOW CAN SHE TAG? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IF YOU TAG THE AMENDMENT, YOU TAG THE MAIN ITEM. THE MAIN ITEM IS NOT TAGABLE. SO I AM RULING YOUR AMENDMENT OUT OF ORDER, STILL CHALLENGING THE CHAIR. YOU MAY CHALLENGE THE CHAIR. AND ON WHAT BASIS ARE YOU CHALLENGING THE CHAIR? MICROPHONE. MICROPHONE. UH, THE BASIS IS THAT THIS IS A NEW ITEM ADDED TO AT THE, AT THE VERY END OF THE, OF THE DAY. AND, UM, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS PART OF THE MAIN, I THINK WE CAN TAG THE, THE ITEM AND THEN TAKE ON THE MAIN, UH, AGENDA. AND THEN THE, THE, THE, UH, THE AMENDMENT BECOMES MOOT AT THAT POINT. BUT, UH, AMENDMENT, THAT'S THE RISK YOU TAKE WHEN YOU PUT IN AN AMENDMENT AT THE LAST MINUTE. JUST SAY THIS, THE AMENDMENT WAS GIVEN OUT LAST WEEK WHEN THE AMENDMENT WAS ON THE TABLE LAST WEEK. WHEN YOU, YOU TAGGED AND YOU TAGGED IT. YOU TAGGED THE ITEM AND THE ITEM WAS TAGGED ALONG WITH THE AMENDMENT COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT YOU BUT MAYOR, THE AMENDMENT WASN'T OFFICIALLY PROFFERED UNTIL IT WAS ANNOUNCED. IT WAS NOT ANNOUNCED. I TAGGED THE ITEM AND THE AMENDMENT WASN'T TALKED ABOUT. SO IT WASN'T OFFERED ON, ON LAST WEEK, IT WAS OFFERED TODAY. YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE CHALLENGING THE RULING OF THE CHAIR, RIGHT? THE VOTE. IF YOU VOTE YES, THEN YOU ARE VOTING TO OVERRIDE THE CHAIR, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO VOTE. UH, CALL THE, UM, ROLL CALL. VOTE A VOTE YES. IS TO OVERRIDE THE CHAIR A VOTE? YES. IS TO OVERRIDE A VOTE. NO. IS NOT TO OVERRIDE THE CHAIR. MAYOR TURNER? NO. COUNCIL? YES. COUNCIL JACKSON? NO. COUNCIL. EVAN AL? NO. NO. CONSTABLE MARTIN? NO. COUNCIL THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCIL. MR. CISNEROS? NO. COUNCIL DI YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? NO. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCIL KNOX? YES. COUNCIL ROBINSON? NO. COUNCILMAN KOSH? YES. CLUMBER? YES. COUNCIL ALCORN? YES. F**K. THE MOTION FAILS. THE MOTION TO ARRIVE THE CHAIR FAILS. NINE, SEVEN. MOTION TO ARRIVED. THE CHAIR FAILS. NINE TO SEVEN. UH, SEVEN TO NINE, I SHOULD SAY. OKAY. NOW WE ARE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT. WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST, UH, WANT TO SAY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE HOBBY AIRPORT, NO ONE FROM THE AIRPORT SYSTEM EVEN REACHED OUT TO ME ON THIS ITEM. AND ON THE 10, UH, 10 YEARS OF BEING IN OFFICE HERE, I DON'T RECALL GOING BACK ON A CONTRACT AND TRYING TO RENEGOTIATE HERE AT THE HORSESHOE. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, KNOWING THAT I AM LEAVING [04:55:01] OFFICE ON MY LAST DAY OF CITY COUNCIL. AND I AM LOOKING AT TRYING TO NE RENEGOTIATE SOMETHING THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH AND CAME TO CITY COUNCIL AND WE APPROVED IT. AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND OR SEE HOW, IF THIS WOULD PASS. AND LET'S SAY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN AND WANTS TO CHANGE THINGS. HOW IS THAT GONNA PREVENT CITY COUNCIL FROM SAYING, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S THE TIME THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE SPEAKING UP AND SAYING, NO, MAYOR, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS. OR YES, MAYOR, WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT WE DON'T DO THAT ON OUR LAST DAY ON COUNCIL. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE AGAIN, IT IS MY LAST DAY AND I WILL NOT DO THAT. AND COUNCILMAN GALLEGOS, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR THREE WEEKS. IT HAS BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH. IT'S BEEN TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. AND IT'S LED US UP TO THIS DAY. SO THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA FOR THREE WEEKS. OKAY? AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, AND LET US BE VERY CLEAR. PEOPLE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR WHAT THEY INTENT INTEND TO BE, UH, IN TERMS OF THIS MATTER. SO LET'S BE, LET'S ALL BE VERY CLEAR. LET'S BE VERY TRANS SINCE PEOPLE USED THE WORD TRANSPARENCY. COUNCIL MEMBER KOSH, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. OKAY. AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, WHETHER OR NOT ANYBODY HAS RECEIVED ANY CONTRIBUTIONS MM-HMM . OKAY? MM-HMM . AND THAT MEANS, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. 'CAUSE I'VE DEALT WITH THIS FROM ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE. SO LET'S BE VERY CLEAR AROUND THIS TABLE. HAS ANYBODY RECEIVED ANY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANYBODY WHO STANDS TO PROFIT? IF THIS COME IS TERMINATED. OKAY. SO LET'S BE, LET'S, LET'S COME ON. LET'S NOT AFTER THE VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS, I WAS PLEASED WITH THE, YOUR ORIGINAL, UM, AGENDA ITEM. AND, AND EVEN AS YOU BEGAN TO SPEAK TODAY, TALKING ABOUT IT WAS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND THAT. UM, BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEN WHEN WE ARE HEARING THAT, THAT, THAT THIS, UM, THE AMENDMENT, UM, FOCUSES MORE ON FAIRNESS, IS THAT AT THE EXPENSE OF TRANSPARENCY, DO YOU BELIEVE, CAN YOU ASSURE ME THAT WE'RE STILL TRANSPARENT IS POSSIBLE. WE ARE STILL TRANSPARENT. BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR ANY, UH, CONCESSION, A REVENUE GENERAL CREATING CONTRACT TO BE TERMINATED, THEY MUST BE FOR CAUSE. WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE WHY YOU ARE TERMINATING. AND NOT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DIRECTOR DECIDE, I DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE, AND GONE. SO AT LEAST WHEN YOU HAVE TO, UM, TERMINATE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THESE LONG TERM CONTRACTS, IN THIS CASE, IT'S ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER CIS, AND THERE ARE 10 YEAR CONTRACTS AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS. IF THEY ARE TO BE TERMINATED, THEY SHOULD BE TERMINATED FOR CAUSE. NOT JUST BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND DECIDE, I DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE. SO THAT BRINGS ABOUT, UM, A LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ESTABLISH YOUR RATIONALE. OKAY? UH, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE CLEARLY TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS ARE, ARE BOTH EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IS CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I, UH, ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THAT THE AMENDMENT GOES FAR ENOUGH. I ACTUALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL ITEM BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, I LEARNED OF, UH, PUBLIC WORKS CANCELING WATER CONTRACTS ON THE NEWS, RIGHT? AND I JUST THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE MOVING THIS TYPE OF MONEY ACROSS COUNCIL, AT SOME POINT, THERE SHOULD BE A BASELINE WHERE IT RETURNS WHEN CONTRACTS NO LONGER SERVE THE CITY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AND WE CAN INTERPRET IN, UM, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE. BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, WHAT'S RIGHT FOR HOUSTONIANS. AND I THINK THERE'S A, A FINANCIAL IMPLICATION THAT'S NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT IF A CONTRACT IN THE AIRPORT IS CLOSED. UM, SO, UH, WE, WE, I JUST WANT US TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, UM, AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR US NOT TO DO SOME THINGS. PROP A NOW ALLOWS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PUT THINGS ON THE AGENDA, BUT THIS ACTUALLY SERVES AS A PRECEDENT MOVING FORWARD TO [05:00:01] OFFER HOUSTONIANS AND OURSELVES MORE ABILITY IN THE, IN THE PROCESS. SO I, I, I WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR AMENDMENT, OF COURSE, BUT I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE IT IN THE ORIGINAL ITEM. SO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THEN INVESTIGATE AGAIN WHAT C CON CONSISTENTLY SERVES HOUSTONIANS. UM, SO I, I HOPE WE DON'T BELABOR THIS ITEM, UH, ANY TOO MUCH LONGER. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN KASH. MAYOR, IF THIS, UH, IF THIS WERE TO PASS, UH, WILL THE CONTRACT HAVE TO BE RE UH, EXECUTED BY THE, UH, THE PARTIES INVOLVED? I, I, UM, I, YOU WANT TO WANNA ADDRESS THAT? YOU TYPICALLY DO HAVE, UH, UH, NEW SIGNATURES BY BOTH PARTIES. AND IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, WOULD IT HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AFTER IT'S BEEN RE EXECUTED TO, TO BE VOTED ON AGAIN? NO. THE ACTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE AMENDMENT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE COUNCIL ACTION. AND I, I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS. I, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A CONTRACT, UH, BE TERMINATED FOR, FOR CALLS, UH, MAY, MAYBE ONE CONTRACT OUT AT THE AIRPORT, BACK DURING THE PARKER ADMINISTRATION. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT WAS. MM-HMM . BUT, UM, I, I, I'M, I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, UH, MAYOR, WHEN I HEARD THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU, YOU JUST LEARNED OF THIS, AND I MEAN, THIS HAPPENED BACK IN MARCH. I MEAN, YOU'RE A LAWYER, I'M SURE YOU WOULD'VE READ THE, THE CONTRACT, AND YOU'D HAVE SEEN THAT IN THERE, AND THEN FOR YOU TO SAY YOU'D NEVER SEEN IT, AND YOU JUST LEARNED OF IT. UH, AND THEN EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WE BRING THIS UP. WHO, WHO BROUGHT, WHO, WHO SAW THIS AND DECIDED, OH, I'M GONNA BRING, I MEAN, I'M SURELY YOU'RE NOT SITTING AROUND THANKSGIVING AND, AND READING THESE OLD CONTRACTS. I MEAN, I DON'T READ, I DON'T READ EVERY CONTRACT THAT WE APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER. I, I WISH I HAD THAT TYPE OF TIME, BUT I DON'T. YOU GOT THAT KIND OF EDUCATION. I GUARANTEE YOU. WELL, THE EDUCATION IS TRUE, BUT WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, I DO ATTEMPT TO TRY TO RECTIFY IT. WHERE, WHERE, WHERE, WHO BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION? WHERE DID THE ATTENTION COME FROM? WHAT I CAN, WHAT I CAN SAY TO YOU IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO, LEMME GET THAT STATEMENT, NO CONTRACT WITH, WITH THIS TERMINATION. FOR, FOR CONVENIENCE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COBAR, THE, THE CONTRACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS INCONSISTENT, EXCUSE ME, THE PRIOR GENERATION OF, OF THE HOUSTON AREA, UH, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM CONCESSION CONTRACTS, SOME STILL IN EXISTENCE, AND THE EXPIRED ONES. EXAMPLE, PAPA'S HAS NO TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSES ONLY FOR CAUSE. SO THAT STILL, AND THAT INCLUDES PAPAS. SO THAT'LL STILL BE IN THERE. PE PEOPLE COULD BE BECAUSE, BECAUSE YES, YES, SIR. BUT THAT, BUT THAT'S PRETTY BROAD TOO. WELL, BUT THIS, IT MAKES IT, WELL, WE, WHAT VICE MAYOR APPROACH AMENDMENT DOES. IT MAKES IT CONSISTENT WITH ALL OF THE OTHERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UM, VICE MAYOR POT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF FAIRNESS. UH, WE TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS AROUND THIS HORSESHOE. UM, IF I HAD A, A, A CONTRACT, A REVENUE CONTRACT AT THE AIRPORT, AND THIS BODY DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON MY CONTRACT, I WOULD BE CONCERNED. I WANT TO ASK THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY. UM, I HAVE DONE SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL DUE DILIGENCE BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY AMENDMENT DOES EXACTLY THAT, CREATE FAIRNESS. UM, EVERY REVENUE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORT, UM, DOES NOT HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR CONTRACTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AT THE AIRPORT THAT ARE REVENUE CONTRACTS. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, THE, UH, GOODS AND SERVICES CONTRACTS HAVE TERMINATION CLAUSES FOR CONVENIENCE AND FOR CAUSE. SO THE, THE, THE WATER ISSUE IS DIFFERENT. THAT'S A GOODS AND SERVICE CONTRACT. THIS IS A REVENUE CONTRACT. NO OTHER REVENUE CONTRACT IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE BESIDES THESE FOUR. AND THE AMENDMENT IS FOR FAIRNESS. IF WE WANT TO HAVE A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE FOR ALL OF, WE NEED TO DO IT FOR ALL OF THEM, I THINK WE NEED TO BE FAIR. SO MY AMENDMENT IS TO TAKE THAT OUT. CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT ALL OF THE REVENUE CONTRACTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON DO NOT HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE? UH, THAT IS WHAT I ASKED THE LAWYERS WHO WORK WITH THESE CONTRACTS IN THE AIRPORT. THESE ARE THE ONLY, UH, THE FOUR ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE. UH, YOU MAY RECALL IN 21, UH, A NON-AIR AIRPORT CONTRACT, THE, THE KIOSK CONTRACT THAT HAD ONLY A TERMINATION FOR CAUSE PROVISION, IT HAD NO TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. THAT IS ALSO A REVENUE CONTRACT. I ASKED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT [05:05:01] TO PULL A COUPLE OF CONTRACTS. I LOOKED AT THOSE. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. I CALLED SOMEONE THAT I KNOW HAS A REVENUE CONTRACT AND THEIR, UH, CONTRACT DID NOT HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. SO I DID SOME SPOT CHECKING, UM, JUST TO BE SURE THAT NO OTHER CONTRACT HAD A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. AND THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR CONTRACTS THAT I'M BEING TOLD HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S FAIR THAT THESE FOUR CONTRACTS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT SHOULD HAVE THE TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE, WHY IS THAT? SO, WHY SHOULD THESE FOUR CONTRACTS BE THE ONLY ONE WITH THE TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE? IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A BODY OR THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, WE NEED TO DO IT FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST FOR THESE FOUR PEOPLE. COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE CITY USED TO NOT DO ANY OF THE CONVENIENCE CLAUSES IN THE CONTRACTS. AND THE REASON WHY WE STARTED DOING THAT WAS BECAUSE AFTER THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS, WHEN THE CITY VOTED TO STOP THAT, THE CITY WAS STILL ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING THE CONTRACTOR. YES. UM, FOR THAT MONEY. SO THE CITY MOVED TOWARDS THE CONVENIENCE CLAUSES IN MOST OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE PASS. NOW, BUSINESS SERVICES, NOT REVENUE. NO, I KNOW, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN GENERAL, THAT'S NOT THE, MOST OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE DO NOW HAVE THAT CONVENIENCE CLAUSE BECAUSE THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE CITY MIGHT BE ON THE HOOK FINANCIALLY, WHETHER IT'S A REVENUE, REVENUE OR WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, IT STILL IS. UM, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE CITY MIGHT BE ON THE HOOK. AND SO WHETHER IT'S A REVENUE CONTRACT OR NOT, I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF PROVISION THAT WE CAN GET OUT OF IT, NOT JUST FOR ANY PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR, JUST IN GOOD GOVERNANCE, HOW WE NEED TO GET OUT OF SOMETHING, SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE TERMINATION FOR CAUSE THAT, AND SO THAT'S WHY ALLOWS US TO GET OUT. THAT'S WHY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN EVERY CONTRACT. STILL, THERE'S SOME WAY OF GETTING OUT SO THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT BE ON THE HOOK FINANCIALLY. COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A CONVENIENCE FOR COUNCIL CLAUSE, BUT, BUT TO HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE FOR THE DIRECTOR THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL COMMUNICATION WITH WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER THEY CAN DO SOMETHING OR NOT. AS A BODY, WE SHOULD WANT TO HAVE MORE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR A DIRECTOR THAT'S NOT ELECTED TO BE ABLE TO, FOR CONVENIENCE, CANCEL A REVENUE CONTRACT. REVENUE CONTRACTS THAT WE DEPEND ON FOR SERVICES, I THINK IS LAZY ON OUR PARTS TO GO THAT WAY. IF WE WANT TO BE TRULY, UM, ACCOUNTABLE AND WE WANT TO HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES, THEN YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A TERMINATION FOR CAUSE FOR A REASON THAT YOU CAN GIVE SOME TYPE OF MERITORIOUS ARGUMENT ON WHY CONVENIENCE IS TOO DISCRETIONARY. AND IT'S TOO DISCRETIONARY FOR ONE PERSON TO HAVE ALL OF THAT, UM, AUTHORITY. SO YEAH, IF WE CAN HAVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE FOR COUNCIL, I'D BE ALL ALL FINE WITH THAT. BUT TO GIVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE FOR THE DIRECTOR, NO. WE WORK TOO HARD AS A BODY TO APPROVE THESE CONTRACTS TO THEN LET A SINGLE PERSON BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, FOR CONVENIENCE WITH A 30 DAY WRITTEN NOTICE, IT ALL GOES AWAY. UH, WE OWE OURSELVES MORE THAN THAT. WE OWE THE PUBLIC MORE THAN THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK HER AMENDMENT, HER AMENDMENT IS STRONG. COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, UM, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY KNOW WHAT THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO OR NOT DO. UH, THAT'S THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND THING IS YOU, YOU'VE MADE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. WELL, THIS AMENDMENT, THIS WHOLE ITEM, I BELIEVE IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT VENDORS FROM THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION FOR SOME REASON. NOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY INSIGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE, BUT I DO KNOW IT'S AWFUL STRANGE AS FAR AS GIVING, UH, COUNCIL POWER. YOU'VE HAD EIGHT YEARS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE US THIS SORT OF POWER. YOU'VE HAD EIGHT YEARS. WE'VE HAD NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND THIS TABLE REGARDING BAD ACTOR CONTRACTORS AND BAD ACTOR VENDORS. AND WE'VE NEVER EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ANY INPUT. WHAT WE GET TOLD IS, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT IN THE FUTURE. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN. NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ON THE LAST WEEK, THE LAST THREE WEEKS OF OUR, OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT. UM, [05:10:01] I, I, JUST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I, I THINK THIS IS AN ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO HAMSTRING, THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE AIR AIRPORT CONTRACTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, NOT NAMING ANY VENDORS, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER REMAINS. THIS IS A, UH, IT'S BLATANT ATTEMPT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, TO HANG HAMS SCREENING HAMSTRING. THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION, UH, IN DOING THEIR BUSINESS, WE HAVE TO TRUST. LOOK, MAYOR TURNER, WHEN YOU CAME INTO OFFICE, IF SOMEBODY HAD DONE THIS TO YOU, YOU'D HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS. NO. WELL, OH, NO SIR. I'M NOT DONE YET. NO, NO, NO. BUT DON'T, DON'T, DON'T TRY TO PULL ME INTO YOUR ARGUMENTS AND, AND THROW IT ON ME. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MIN, NO SIR, NO SIR. OKAY, I'LL RETRACT THAT STATEMENT, BUT YEAH, PLEASE. BUT NEVERTHELESS, UH, THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THIS IS TO PROTECT THE VENDORS CURRENTLY, UH, THAT HAVE WON THE CONTRACT. I TRUST THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO WHAT'S BEST, BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND TO INTERVENE WITH THAT IN THE LAST MINUTES OF OUR TENURE HERE, I, I BELIEVE IS INAPPROPRIATE AND UNWISE, AND SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT FOR BAD PUBLIC POLICY. UH, AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO, UH, DISAGREE WITH THIS AMENDMENT AND THE ITEM. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT WAS INSINUATED THAT OUR VOTE IS BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION. I'VE BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS, AND I HAVE TAKEN PRIDE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING MY DISTRICT. I'M GONNA HAVE PRIDE LEAVING THIS CHAMBER WITH MY HEAD UP HIGH, KNOWING I DO NOT HAVE A BLEMISH ON MY RECORD. AND I DON'T APPRECIATE BEING INSINUATING THAT MY VOTE IS BECAUSE OF A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION, BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS NOT MY VOTE TODAY IS BECAUSE I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE DON'T, RENE RENEGOTIATE A CONTRACT HERE AT THE CHAMBER ON THE LAST DAY OF COUNCIL. THAT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW COUNCIL. SO AGAIN, I LEAVE TODAY WITH MY HEAD UP HIGH, NOT BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION. COUNCILMAN, MAYOR COIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN, AND I DO FEEL LIKE REMOVING, I'M NOT A LAWYER. SHE IS, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE REMO, WHEN YOU REMOVE A CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, THAT IS, THAT IS KIND OF WEAKENING OUR POSITION. I ALSO WANNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, VICE MAYOR PRO TEMS, UH, FAIRNESS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE CONTRACTS. THAT'S WHY I ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE AND, AND FOR CAUSE, UH, CLAUSES. AND ARE THERE, THE, THE REVENUE CONTRACTS AT THE AIRPORT, NOT THESE FOUR. ARE THERE OTHERS THAT ARE JUST FOR CAUSE THAT NOW WILL BE NOT THE SAME AS THESE, BECAUSE THOSE WON'T HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL INTERJECTED INTO THEM. SEE, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY FOUR CONVENIENCE CLAUSE, BUT WE AREN'T INTERJECTING WHAT, BUT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NOW HAVE THEM COME BACK FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. NO. ARE THERE OTHER NO. FOR NOT APPROVAL, BUT FOR, WE'RE PUTTING THE, THE, THE ACTUAL ITEM NO. INJECT CITY COUNCIL? NO, THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENT, THE AMENDMENT CHANGES. AMENDMENT SAID. OH, OKAY. OKAY. SO AMENDMENT MAKES EVERYBODY FAIR. I'M FOLLOWING YOU NOW. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAY I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION? SURE. CITY ATTORNEY. IF THE, WE HAVE COMPLETELY MUDDIED THIS WHOLE ITEM IN MY MIND. I MEAN, WE'VE REALLY MADE IT PERSONAL IN MANY WAYS. AND MY QUESTION IS, AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M GOING TO, BUT IF I WERE TO TAG THE AMENDMENT, WOULD THIS GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY? WOULD THIS CHANGE THE AGREEMENTS OR THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WITH LATRELL AND WITH AREAS? BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO, THIS IS I'M TRYING TO DIVIDE THE ISSUE AND JUST FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. I'M WORRIED ABOUT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONUS THAT WE HAVE AS COUNCIL FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. SO YOU, SO IF I WERE TO, IF I TAG, IF I TAGGED [05:15:01] THE AMENDMENT YES. WOULD THAT, I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE VENDORS. DOES THE CONTRACT STILL STAY THE SAME? IT WOULD BE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. BE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WERE TAGGED, YES. OKAY. AND THEN WE COULD, IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, WE CAN COME BACK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IT IS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT OR NO? UH, I THINK THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COULD ADDRESS IT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING THAT, WHETHER AMENDED OR NOT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, KASH. MAYOR, THE COUNT. MY, MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD, WHO I HIGHLY RESPECT. HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT GIVING THE DIRECTOR ALL THIS POWER, THIS POWER. WELL, THIS POWER THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ISN'T IN THE HANDS OF THE DIRECTOR. IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE MAYOR. AND, AND NO DIRECTOR'S GONNA DO ANYTHING THAT HE, HE'S NOT DIRECTED TO DO BY THE MAYOR IN ANY DEPARTMENT, IN ANY, ANY MAYOR'S OFFICE PRIOR OR IN THE FUTURE. SO, SINCE THERE, SINCE IT, IT IS THE MAYOR. IT'S NOT THE DIRECTOR. IT, IT WOULD BE THE MAYOR WHO TELLS THE DIRECTOR OR AGREES WITH THE DIRECTOR TO DO IT. SO REMEMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYOR. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DIRECTOR HAVING THE POWER TO TERMINATE IT, EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS THAT IT COMES FROM THE, THE POWER AND EMANATES FROM THE MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PROAM MARTIN. YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THESE, UH, THIS CONVERSATION. AND NOW THE BOTTOM LINE ON THIS IS ON JANUARY 2ND. UM, NON COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING HERE TODAY COULD BE HERE DEALING WITH THIS. SO IF YOU DEAL WITH THIS AND THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR DECIDES TO TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE, YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNAMORTIZED INVESTMENT COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID SINCE MARCH OF THESE COMPANIES IN THE AIRPORT. BECAUSE YOU WILL BE SUED AND YOU WILL OWE THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THEIR INVESTMENT COSTS. THAT'S IN THE CONTRACT. SO NONE OF YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. I WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. SO ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR HAVING THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? IF YOU ARE, VOTE NO. IF YOU AREN'T, THEN YOU HAVE TO VOTE. YES. SO FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ANYBODY SITTING AROUND HERE, I'VE LISTENED TO ARGUMENTS ABOUT STRONG MAYORAL FORM OF GOVERNANCE. I LISTENED TO CRITICISM ABOUT THE MAYOR CALLING HIMSELF THE CEO. AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE ARGUMENT. I WAS PART OF THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT COULDN'T GET AN AGENDA ITEM ON THE AGENDA MYSELF STARTED, AND BRADFORD COULDN'T DO IT. NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. WHY? BECAUSE COUNCIL WANTED MORE POWER IN DECISION MAKINGS. SO IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH ALLOWING THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR TO CANCEL A 10 YEAR CONTRACT FOR CONVENIENCE, YOU APPROVE THE CONTRACT IN MARCH. SO YOU ARE NOW OKAY WITH THE TERMINATION OF A CONTRACT YOU APPROVED IN MARCH WITHOUT YOU HAVING ANY SAY SO WHATSOEVER ON THAT DECISION. THAT BLOWS ME AWAY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOU PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT FOR 11 YEARS. YOU APPROVAL YOU COULD APPROVE A CONTRACT IN MARCH, BUT NOW YOU'RE OKAY WITH HAVING NO DETERMINATE DETERMINATION IN THE TERMINATION OF SAID CONTRACT. TELL ME WHERE I'M WRONG. NO, LET'S FACE IT. THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE VOTE WE TOOK IN MARCH THAT DETERMINED THE VENDOR THAT WE HAVE TODAY ARE PAPA'S. LET'S BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. , BECAUSE THE VOTES WILL FALL ALONG THOSE LINES. IT'S MY LAST MEETING. I CAN SAY WHATEVER THE HECK I WANNA SAY THAT'S A FACT. WATCH AND SEE, AND THEN GO BACK TO THE MARCH VOTES AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT I'M AMAZED AT YOU'RE ALLOWING MORE POWER TO BE PUT IN A DIRECTOR'S HANDS OR A MALE MAYOR'S HANDS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN SCREAMING FOR POWER. AND TO DO MORE WITH THAT POWER LIKE WE DID WHEN WE WENT TO THE VOTERS AND APPROVED THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS PUTTING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. I'M AMAZED. MERRY CHRISTMAS VICE MAYOR, PRO TIM CASH ACT. TATUM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A, [05:20:01] THERE'S A, UM, A SECRET THAT THERE'S LITIGATION BETWEEN, UH, ONE OF THE VENDORS AGAINST THE, UM, FOUR CONTRACTS OR THE CITY. IF WE CHANGE, UH, THE CONTRACT TO TAKE OUT THE CLAUSE, TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE, DOES THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON ANY PENDING LITIGATION? IT MAY HAVE SOME IMPACT, BUT THE, IT, IT, IT'LL BE BROUGHT INTO THE LAWSUIT. I'M NOT SURE IT'LL AFFECT THE MERITS AT THE END OF THE DAY. OKAY. SO IF WE VOTE FOR ALL CONTRACTS TO BE FAIR BY TAKING OUT THE TERMINATION CLAUSE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION FROM SAYING, I WANNA GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND I WANT CONTRACTS MOVING FORWARD TO ALL HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE AND A CLAUSE FOR CLAUSE. THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION CAN BRING FORTH WHATEVER CONTRACTS, TERMINATION CLAUSES THAT IT WOULD PREFER. SO, BUT TODAY, THERE ARE NO OTHER REVENUE CONTRACTS AT THE AIRPORT THAT HAVE A TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR CONVENIENCE. NONE OTHER THAN THE FOUR THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. SO WHY WOULD WE WANT, WELL, NEVERMIND. THANK YOU. READY TO VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE VOTE BY SAYING AYE. MADAM SECRETARY CALLED THE ROLL. YES. FOR THE AMENDMENT? NO, NOT FOR THE AMENDMENT. MAYOR TURNER? YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? NO. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL CA. COUNCILMAN EVAN CHABA? YES. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? YES. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? NO. NO. COUNCIL CIRO? YES. COUNCIL GALLEGOS? NO. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCIL MC CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN KNOX? NO. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KUBOSH? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? NO. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? NO. I VOTE NINE TO SEVEN. THE AMENDMENT PASSES. POINT IS MADE. YEAH. NINE SEVEN. NINE SEVEN AMENDMENT PASSES. NOW WE ARE ON THE, UM, ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THE ITEM YET. WE'RE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED. COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFER THIS ITEM BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION PENDING A LEGAL OPINION FROM OUR CITY, A WRITTEN LEGAL OPINION FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY. AND, UM, SO THE NEXT COUNSEL CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE IMPACT OR LACK THEREOF REGARDING THE CHANGE IN THIS WORDING, UH, THAT WE'VE JUST ADDED TO THIS CONTRACT. SECOND MOVED. AND SECOND, UM, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AND, UM, VOTE IF YOU VOTE. NO, IT IS TO NOT TO SEND IT BACK. IF YOU VOTE YES, IT IS. TO SEND IT BACK. OKAY. NO, IS NOT. IF YOU VOTE FOR IT FOR THE MOTION, IT IS TO SEND IT BACK. NO, IT'S NOT TO SEND IT BACK. MATTER OF SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. NO. COUNCILMAN PECK? YES. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN CHABA. NO. COUNCILMAN MARTIN? NO. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN? YES. COUNCILMAN CISNEROS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS? YES. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? NO. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? NO. COUNCIL KNOX? YES. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? NO. COUNCIL KASH? YES. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? YES. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? YES. VOTE NINE. UH, 79. THE, THE, UM, MOTION FAILS. NOW WE ON THE ITEM AS AMENDED. MADAM SECRETARY, POLICE CALL THE, THE ROLE ITEM AS AMENDED. CALL THE ROLE MAYOR TURNER. YES. COUNCILMAN PECK? NO. COUNCILMAN JACKSON? YES. COUNCIL EVAN SHIBA? YES. COUNCIL MARTIN? YES. COUNCILMAN THOMAS? YES. COUNCILMAN HUFFMAN? NO. COUNCILMAN CIRO? YES. MC GALLS? NO. COUNCILMAN POLLARD? YES. COUNCILMAN CASTEX TATUM? YES. COUNCILMAN KNOX? NO. COUNCILMAN ROBINSON? YES. COUNCILMAN KASH? NO. COUNCILMAN PLUMMER? NO. COUNCILMAN ALCORN? NO. BON NINE SEVEN. IT CARRIES NINE SEVEN. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IN FIRST. ONE SECOND. IS THERE A MOTION TO GO PAST THAT MOVE, ROBINSON? OH, BEEN MOVED. BEEN MOVED. SECOND TO GO BACK TO ANY OBJECTION. NOW GRANTED, NOW PLEASE CALL THE, THE FINAL ITEM. OKAY. HOLD [05:25:01] PROMISE. OKAY. ITEM 72 IS AN ORDINANCE. JUST NEED A VOTE ON ITEM 72. UH, COUNCILMAN KNOX. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE'S NO, UM, FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS LGC. YOU KNOW, HOUSTON FIRST HAS A FUNDING SOURCE, THE HOT TAX. UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT TO AUTHORIZE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA OR INCLINATION ABOUT HOW IT'S GONNA BE FUNDED. SO I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON THIS ISSUE FOR THAT REASON. BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, NO, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS ITEM. THAT COMPLETE COMMUNITY REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE CITY. THE PURPOSE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION IS TO RAISE FUNDS. THAT'S THEIR PURPOSE. TO, TO RAISE GRANT FUNDING, RAISE MONIES FOR IT. SO IT'S NOT INTENDED TO HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE OTHER THAN THE MONEY THAT THEY WOULD GENERATE TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES AND THE PROJECTS OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING CREATED. UH, VICE P TIM CAST TATUM. THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM. SO I DID ASK, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A LIST OF ALL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY. AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO SHARE THESE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THE HOUSTON ZOO DEVELOPMENT CORP IS AN LGC, UM, THAT WAS CREATED BY MAYOR LEE P. BROWN. UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS AN LGC BY MAYOR BILL WHITE HOUSTON FOREST CORPORATION IS AN LGC BY MAYOR PARKER AND LEE BROWN, HOUSTON AMATEUR SPORTS PARK, LGC BY MAYOR PARKER. HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE, LGC BY MAYOR PARKER HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER, ALSO AN LGC, HOUSTON CIVIC EVENTS INC. UM, ALSO AN LGC BY MAYOR PARKER HOUSTON LAND BANK. UM, AN LGC BY MAYOR TURNER, HOUSTON SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND LGC BY MAYOR TURNER. UM, AND NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO, UH, ANOTHER LGC, WHICH I THINK IS, UM, GOOD FOR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES. UM, EDISON'S EDISON ARTS CENTER IN FORT BEND. HOUSTON IN DISTRICT K IS ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITY. UH, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ABANDONED KROGER SHOPPING CENTER. UH, THE ORGANIZATION AND THE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS HAVE RAISED $25 MILLION. UM, WE HAVE A $5 MILLION GAP THAT WE ARE HOPING TO RAISE FUNDS TO GET THIS PROJECT OVER THE FINISH LINE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN OUR TERMS OF SERVICE FOR SOME OF US FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR US TO GET THESE PROJECTS OVER THE FINISH LINE. UM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THESE PROJECTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RAISING THIS TYPE OF MONEY FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO RAISE $25 MILLION IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AND NOW NEED FIVE ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS TO REMOVE THE BLIGHT THAT HAS BEEN IN FORT BEND HOUSTON FOR OVER 20 YEARS. WE NEED THIS LGC IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP THESE PROJECTS. IF WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A COUNCIL GET TO COMPLETION, UM, THROUGH COMPLETE COMMUNITY. SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE IN FAVOR? OPPOSE. ITEM CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ALRIGHT. SHOW COUNCILMAN KNOX. WILLIAM. NO. AND HUFFMAN VOTING? NO. THANK YOU KOSH. AND COUNCILMAN KASH. AND COUNCILMAN P. ALRIGHT. UM, NEXT ITEM. THANKS. NO OBJECTION. PLEASE. STATE ITEM CONCLUDES. OKAY. THAT COMPLETES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND [NON CONSENT - MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS] WE START TODAY WITH MAYOR WITH CAN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE EXTEND PAST 12? DID. WE DID, DID. THANK YOU. WE START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANTED TO SPEND, SPEND MY POPOFF TIME JUST THANKING YOU, UM, FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR CHAMPIONING, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT B. UM, WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS A LEADER, UM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION SINCE TAKING, SINCE I'VE GOT IN OFFICE. BUT, UM, YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS INVESTED MORE. UM, IN DISTRICT B, THERE'S BEEN MORE RESOURCES IN DISTRICT B, UM, THAN ANY ADMINISTRATION. AND SO I JUST WANT THE HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF MY PRIORITIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME IN OFFICE, MY PRIORITIES WAS JOBS AND, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, [05:30:01] TACKLING, FLOODING, PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL DUMPING. AND SO JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE SUCCESSES I HAVE. UM, OVER THE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. WHAT, SINCE 2021, UM, YOU, UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STEER MORE THAN $500,000 IN WHAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT WENT TO THE BE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE, UM, WITHIN DISTRICT B, UM, $500,000 FOR OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGER INITIATIVE. WE JUST VOTED ON THAT A, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHERE IT WENT TO, UM, COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR YOUTH, UM, TO WORK WITH, UM, AT-RISK YOUTH AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. UM, WE, IT SECURED ADDITIONAL DAYS AND HOURS AT THE, UM, CITY TRASH DEPOSITORIES. UM, OVER $18 MILLION ALLOCATED TO TACKLE ILLEGAL DUMPING, UM, FLOOD. YES. UM, FLOODING WAS A BIG, UM, UM, A ISSUE IN PRIORITY WITHIN DISTRICT B. WE SUBMITTED A TOTAL OF 14 STORM WATER ACTION TEAM PROJECTS. UM, EIGHT OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, UM, AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3.3 MILLION. UM, AN ADDITIONAL, UM, $20 MILLION TO THE LOCAL DRAINAGE PROJECT, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY USED TO REVERSE THIS DITCH 20 OLD DITCH MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT FOR THAT. UM, WE SAVED THE DEMOLITION OF THE TIT WELL POOL. UM, THANKS TO YOU AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE NIA THOMAS. UM, NOW WE ARE GONNA HAVE A YEAR-ROUND POOL, UM, BETHUNE ACADEMY, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR, UM, WHETHER TO GET INTO BUSINESS OR TO, UM, AND LOOKING FOR WORK. SO, I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST EIGHT POINTS. I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH DISTRICT B, BUT JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR YOUR EAR AND YOUR OPEN DOOR POLICY AND JUST DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR SO LONG GET THE SERVICES AND THE RESOURCES THAT NEED. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION. UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A BLESSING. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN POLLARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THESE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN, UH, REWARDING. THEY'VE BEEN CHALLENGING. UH, NEVER DID I THINK WE WOULD GET ELECTED AND THEN JUMP INTO A PANDEMIC A FEW MONTHS LATER. UM, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, UH, FOR THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE'VE BUILT, UH, THE MEMORIES AND THE TIME THAT WE HAD TO ALL THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO MISS YOU ALL. I HOPE THAT WE CAN STILL, UH, FIND WAYS TO COLLABORATE AND ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER. UH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM EACH OF YOU. I THINK THE, THE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS COUNCIL COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER MAJOR CITIES, IS WE'RE, WE'RE A SMALLER COUNCIL. AND, UM, WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PERSPECTIVES AND OUR OWN MINDSETS. AND I THINK THAT DIFFERING OF THOUGHT, UH, PUSHES US, UH, PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. UH, SO I'VE, I'VE GROWN A LOT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I'VE GROWN AS A LEADER AND, AND GROWN AS A SERVANT. AND MANY OF THAT, UH, IS BECAUSE OF EACH ONE OF YOU ALL. SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFFS, UH, FOR THE ENGAGEMENT WITH MY STAFF. UH, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE DIRECTORS, EVERYONE THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN KEEPING THIS CITY MOVING EVERY SINGLE DAY. UM, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT WITH A, WITH A NEW CREW. UM, I AM EXCITED ABOUT, UH, THE FUTURE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE IN THE PAST, AND SO TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. I VALUE, UH, TO MAYOR TURNER. UM, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU. UH, WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERYTHING, UH, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THE THING I THINK I ADMIRE MOST IS YOU NEVER STOP. YOU KEEP GOING. NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. YOUR STAMINA IS, UH, NEVER OUTMATCHED. AND SO, UM, I PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO THAT THEY'RE GONNA PLAY JUST FOR YOU REALLY QUICK WOW. AMEN. TO MY MAYOR. THE FIRST MEMORY I HAVE OF BEING CIVICALLY ACTIVE IS STANDING OUTSIDE THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER. AS A YOUNG 7-YEAR-OLD BOY IN 1991, PASSING OUT YOUR CAMPAIGN BUTTONS FOR YOUR FIRST MAYOR RON, I DID NOT FULLY GRASP THE GRAVITY OF THE MOMENT OF YOU RUNNING TO BE THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF OUR CITY. NO, BUT WHAT I DO RECALL IS SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE EXCITED TO SUPPORT YOU AND THINKING, WOW, THIS GUY MUST BE REALLY IMPORTANT. FROM THEN ON, I FOLLOWED YOU AND YOU ALLOWED ME TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO YOUR JOURNEY FROM YOUR TIME IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO HELPING ME GET MY FIRST LEGAL INTERNSHIP. YEAH, TO ENCOURAGING ME TO BECOME AN ALPHA. YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY OPENED DOORS AND PROVIDED ME A ROADMAP TO FOLLOW. THAT ROADMAP HAS LED ME TO CITY HALL, BEING ABLE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU TO REPRESENT THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, AS I AM CURRENTLY THE ONLY BLACK [05:35:01] MALE ON COUNCIL. YOU WERE THERE AS A MENTOR AND AS AN INSPIRATION OF WHAT I CAN ASPIRE TO THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE FIRST TERM. I HAVE LEANED ON YOU FOR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL ADVICE, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS MADE TIME FOR ME TO BE A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE. WE'VE SHARED MANY MOMENTS AND MANY LONG CONVERSATIONS. SOMETIMES THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE JUST ME LISTENING AND LEARNING. AND ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, I'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED YOU AND ALWAYS WILL. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS, AND I KNOW I WILL LEAN ON YOU EVEN MORE SO THAT MY POLITICAL JOURNEY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BE AS EXCEPTIONAL AND REWARDING AS YOURS. MOVING FORWARD, PLEASE REFLECT ON HOW MUCH YOU HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED ME AND MANY OTHERS. NOT ONLY ARE YOU MY MAYOR, YOU ARE MY FRIEND, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO REST AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THAT YOU DO. VERY NICE. VERY, THAT WAS NICE. YOU UP, YOU UP. I JUST NEED YOU TO CALL MY NAME SECRETARY. COUNCIL MEMBER SHABBAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE TISSUE. UM, I WANT TO QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THESE EVENTS. UH, THE MANSON PLACE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IN THIRD WARD WAS VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT. IT'S GONNA ACTUALLY GIVE LOW INCOME PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHILE THEY PURSUE THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS. AND THAT'S GONNA BE KEY. ALSO, WE HAVE THE HOLIDAY FIXINGS FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN SUNNYSIDE. THAT WAS VERY, VERY, UM, WELL ATTENDED. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE ITEMS TO 300 PEOPLE. AND I, I WOULD START THANKING A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T WANNA USE MY TIME UP. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AS YOU CHAIR YOUR FINAL COUNCIL MEETING, I AM FILLED WITH PROFOUND RESPECT AND GRATITUDE, AND WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU HAS BEEN AN HONOR OF MY TENURE. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN MARKED BY DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE WELFARE AND GROWTH OF OUR CITY, FOR PARTICULARLY IN CHAMPIONING THE CO CHAMPION, CHAMPIONING THE CAUSES AND NEEDS OF DISTRICT D UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE, WE HAVE SEEN TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT PRO PROGRESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU, YOUR ABILITY TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND EFFECTIVENESS HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. THE LEGACY YOU LEAVE BEHIND IS ONE OF RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, AND THANK EVERY ALL OF THE STAFF AND CITY EMPLOYEES, AND CERTAINLY MY STAFF, UH, STEVEN, COREY, INGRAM, AND TUCKER FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT. AND MAYOR, I, I TRIED TO UPSTATE YOU TODAY, BUT YOU CAME IN THAT RED JACKET , AND SO I GUESS YOU LOOK BETTER THAN I DO TODAY, . ANYWAY, WEAR YOUR HAT. MAYOR, WE PROUDLY YOU HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I PERSONALLY THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN HOFFMAN. THANK YOU. UH, YOU KNOW, AS THE NEWER, NEWEST MEMBER ON CITY COUNCIL, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. UM, THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND MAYOR, I'VE ESPECIALLY LOVED GETTING TO KNOW YOU. UM, I DON'T THINK I'VE MET ANYONE THAT LOVES THE CITY OF HOUSTON MORE THAN YOU DO, AND I DON'T THINK THERE EVER WILL BE ANYONE THAT LOVES THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS MUCH AS YOU DO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW THIS IS A SACRIFICE, IT'S A SERVICE THAT YOU KNOW ALL OF YOU DO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SNA. UM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT H FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICKLY IT YEARS CAN JUST FLY BY. AND, UM, AND IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN REALLY SATISFYING TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU, TO GET TO KNOW ALL OF YOU, AND TO, AND TO REALLY COME TO APPRECIATE YOUR STRENGTHS AND YOUR PASSION. MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN AMAZING. I, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE REALLY, UM, TRIED TO, TO, TO LOOK TO YOU, TO, YOU KNOW, FOR INSPIRATION AND HOW, HOW TO BE A, AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OFFICIAL, BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE LIKE YOU AND, AND, UM, TO, TO, TO, UM, TO BE SO COMMITTED ALWAYS AND TO THE STAMINA YOU HAVE AND YOUR PASSION YOU HAVE. AND, AND, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU, I MEAN, I THINK YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR GET, YOU KNOW, IS A, A VERY EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR YOU TWO. UM, YOUR SINGING IS NOT , BUT, UM, BUT I'M, I'M, I REALLY, I, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, AND, UM, AND, AND WORKING WITH THE, THE, YOUR ADMINISTRATORS AND, UM, AND, UM, BUT I, I ESPECIALLY WANNA GIVE A, A BIG, UM, THANK YOU TO MY STAFF. UM, Y'ALL MAY ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT THIS, BUT I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I HAVE THE VERY BEST STAFF, AND I, I'M SURE YOU MAY FEEL THAT WAY YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR OWN, BUT, BUT THEY ARE, THEY'VE BECOME FAMILY TO ME. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M, I'M GONNA MISS [05:40:01] THEM. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HARDWORKING AND SMART, AND, AND IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEY, AND THEY HAVE REALLY, THEY CARRY THE WORK, YOU KNOW, AND I, I, I APPRECIATE THEM. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I CAME TO COUNCIL FOR WAS, AND ADVOCACY OF CHILDREN. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS. IT'S PART OF THIS JOB, SO IT'S SO BROAD AND IT TOUCHES SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS. BUT FOR ME, THE, THE, WHAT, WHAT I BROUGHT TO IT THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAS REALLY CENTERED ON, UM, HELPING ADVANCE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST. AND, UM, AND I'VE, I, I'M EXCITED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO RAISE, YOU KNOW, THE AWARENESS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CHILDREN NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. UM, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE FORMATION OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE ON COUNCIL THAT HADN'T EXISTED BEFORE. UM, I JUST WANTED REALLY QUICKLY TO, TO SAY WHAT THE, THE FOUR GOALS OF, OF THAT COMMITTEE IS. I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A COMMITTEE AND THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. I, I APPRECIATE EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALSO EMBRACED, YOU KNOW, ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN, UM, AND THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE DONE THAT TOO. UM, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS THAT, THAT YOU DON'T NORMALLY THINK OF. I MEAN, EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, AUTOMATICALLY THINKS OF THE LIBRARY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND OF COURSE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION. BUT, BUT PUBLIC WORKS. UM, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, SOLID WASTE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, MARK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, UM, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, UM, TRADE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, HITS. UM, THE, THE CHIEF RECOVERY OFFICE, HTV, THEY HAVE ALL PLAYED A BIG PART IN HELPING, YOU KNOW, SHINE A BRIGHTER LIGHT ON THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN. AND, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT. UM, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS STILL TO TACKLE THAT, THAT REALLY NEED HELP. YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR CHILDCARE, THAT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE, ON OUR CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND PARENTS BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STUCK HOME TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. THAT, THAT, THAT AFFECTS WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO. AND, UM, BRINGING MONEY HOME AND, AND THEN, AND LIFTING OUR CITY. UM, I DIDN'T MEAN TO TALK SO LONG. I, I DID WANNA JUST TO, TO MAKE THE POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO, TO KEEP REMEMBERING CHILDREN. UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE, EVERYONE SAYS, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT. BUT, BUT SOMETIMES JUST HAVING SAID THAT, IT'S, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT ENOUGH. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REALLY, UM, TO WALK THAT TALK. AND, AND IT'S EASY TO THINK THAT YOU'VE THAT BY SAYING THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE THERE WITH THEM, BUT THEY, THEY REALLY NEED THE MUSCLE BEHIND THOSE WORDS. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ROS VICEMAN PRO CA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. LAST THURSDAY, WE HAD A, A WONDERFUL DEMOLITION IN DISTRICT K. Y'ALL KNOW HOW EXCITED I WAS ABOUT THE MAD CODE TO FINALLY GO AWAY IN DISTRICT K. UM, RESIDENTS WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY. THEY CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE WITH US AS WE, UM, DEMOED THAT PROPERTY. UH, I WILL TELL YOU, WE WERE VERY MOVED BY. UM, THERE WERE EVEN RESIDENTS THAT CAME THERE AND SAID THAT WAS THE PLACE THAT, UM, AS A YOUNG PERSON, THEY KNEW THAT THEY COULD GO TO BUY ALCOHOL WITHOUT, UM, A LICENSE. UM, THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE WHO SAID THIS WAS THE PLACE THAT MY FAMILY MEMBERS BOUGHT THEIR DRUGS, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE IT BEING KNOCKED DOWN. SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF POSITIVE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD IN THAT AREA. ADJACENT TO THE MAD CODE THAT WE KNOCKED DOWN IS SIMON MENTIONED PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE 50 50 PARKS. UH, MAYOR, YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS, UM, DONE SUCH A OUTSTANDING JOB. WE'LL UNVEIL THAT PARK, UM, ON DECEMBER 29TH. SO YOU ARE WORKING TILL THE LAST MINUTE . SO DECEMBER THE 29TH AT 3:00 PM WE WILL HAVE THE UNVEILING OF MENTION PARK. AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE STRAYED AWAY FROM THAT PARK BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS NEXT TO IT, RIGHT? AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE'VE KNOCKED DOWN THE MAD COAT AND WE ARE UNVEILING THIS NEW PARK HAS REALLY TRANSFORMED THAT WEST FUQUA AREA IN DISTRICT K. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UH, WE HAD THE SNEAK PEEK OF THE DR. SHANNON WALKER NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY THIS WEEKEND, Y'ALL, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. THE RESIDENTS WERE CLAMORING FOR THOSE DOORS TO OPEN SO THEY COULD SEE, UM, ALL OF THE GREAT OFFERINGS IN THIS NEW LIBRARY. UH, DR. LAWSON AND HER TEAM DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. SHE DID REMIND ME THAT THE MEYER PARK, WHICH, UM, MEYER AND FRANK LIBRARIES ARE BEING COMBINED WITH THIS, DR. SHANNON WALKER, THE MEYER PARK LIBRARY IS THE MOST, UM, UTILIZED, UM, LIBRARY BEFORE HARVEY, UM, FOR [05:45:01] CHECKING OUT RESOURCES. SO THE RESIDENTS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THEY NOW WILL, UM, HAVE A LIBRARY TO UTILIZE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE THE GRAND OPENING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AROUND DR. SHANNON WALKER'S SCHEDULE TO TRY TO GET HER TO THE GRAND OPENING, UM, THAT SHE HAS COMMITTED TO DOING AN EVENT, UM, FOR US IN DISTRICT K IF SHE DOESN'T MAKE IT TO THE GRAND OPENING. BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE WORK AROUND HER SCHEDULE TO HAVE HER THERE. GRATEFUL THAT, UM, THE NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER DIRECTOR, VANESSA WHITE WAS THERE, AND SHE INTRODUCED THE VIDEO THAT WE WATCHED FROM DR. SHANNON WALKER. AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE. UM, SHE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT US NAMING THE LIBRARY AFTER HER. MANY OF YOU KNOW, SHE WENT TO JOHNSTON IN DISTRICT K. SHE WENT TO, UM, PARKER AND TO WESTBURY, SO, AND THEN TO RICE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MM-HMM . AND SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER PARTICIPATING WITH US. AND THEN, UM, WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW I'M, AGAIN, PARTNERING WITH CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR LEE VELA AND CRIME STOPPERS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY DA'S OFFICE. WE'VE GOT, UM, BILLBOARDS UP THAT, UM, THEY CALL IT CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE. I CALL IT DEADLY GUNFIRE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO REMIND PEOPLE TO NOT SHOOT THEIR GUNS IN THE AIR TO, UM, CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS. UM, IT IS DEADLY. WE, UM, TWO HOLIDAYS AGO, WE HAD A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT A A YOUNG PERSON, UM, WAS HIT BY A BULLET THAT WAS SHOT IN THE AIR. SO WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY AND NOT SHOOT THEIR GUNS INTO THE AIR. AND THEN FINALLY, MAYOR, UM, AND TO THE OUT SIX OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREME HONOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU. UM, THIS TIME GOES BY FAST AND PEOPLE SAY GOVERNMENT MOVES SLOW, BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BIG PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IT TAKES TIME AND IT MOVES SLOW. UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM EACH OF THESE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR, IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU. UM, YOU'RE STRATEGIC. I REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST MEETING WE HAD WHEN I WAS ELECTED IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION. AND WE SAT IN YOUR OFFICE AND YOU SAID, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE IN DISTRICT K COUNCIL MEMBER? AND FROM THAT TIME, YOU HAVE LISTENED TO, UM, THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU. YOU'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE US TO PUSH A LOT OF ITEMS FORWARD, UH, AND WE APPRECIATED DISTRICT K IS BETTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE SERVED, UH, ALL OF YOU HAVE SERVED. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL COME FORTH. FOUR YEARS IS GONNA GO BY FAST, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE HOUSTON BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALLICO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME START OFF BY THANKING THE MAYOR. IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU THESE PAST EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU, UH, IMPROVING NOT ONLY DISTRICT I, BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT. I, TODAY WAS MY LAST CITY COUNCIL SESSION AS YOUR DISTRICT I CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. I STARTED MY MORNING, LIKE EVERY MORNING, GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR GRANTING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THESE PAST 10 YEARS, GIVING ME THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP, SPEAK OUT, AND DO THE RIGHT THING. I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, NOT ONLY FOR DISTRICT I, BUT FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY TOO. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH TWO MAYORS, MAYOR PARKER, AS WELL AS MAYOR TURNER. AND I WANNA THANK YOU BOTH FOR WORKING WITH ME. TO IMPROVE DISTRICT. I, I WANNA THANK THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS I WORKED WITH AND MY CURRENT COLLEAGUES HERE ON CITY COUNCIL. WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS, INCLUDING A WORLDWIDE EPIDEMIC, BUT HERE WE ARE, HOUSTON STRONG. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THIS RIDE WITH ME. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DIRECTORS FOR WORKING WITH ME THESE PAST 10 YEARS. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK MY INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT'S SITTING AT THE FRONTIER, FORMER AND CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORKED WITH ME THESE PAST 10 YEARS. LEAH OLIVE, NCCA, DIANA MUNOZ, DANIEL SANTA MARIA, GLORIA ALVAREZ, RODRIGUEZ, CELIA VALEZ, MIKE MORENO, AND KEN OLIVE. WITH YOUR HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS FOR OUR DISTRICT AND FOR OUR CITY. AND OF COURSE, FOR MY DIS, MY DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT [05:50:01] SERVICES, COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT JOAQUIN MARTINEZ, WHO HAS BEEN WITH ME FROM DAY ONE. AND I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST, AS DID THE NEXT DISTRICT I COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT. I, I TOO WANT TO THANK JAMES DINKINS, MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND TREASURER FOR HIS DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE SERVING DISTRICT. I, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY. I WILL WALK OUT OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBER FOR THE LAST TIME AS A DISTRICT I COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT I AM CONTENT TO WALK OUT PROUDLY WITH MY HEAD UP HIGH, KNOWING THAT I HAVE GIVEN AND I HAVE DONE MY VERY BEST. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AND I THINK, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING RIGHT UP TO THE LAST MINUTE AND WE'VE GOT, UH, COUNCIL AFTERNOON HERE, . UM, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA KEEP THAT CHAIR WARM, RIGHT ABOUT UP TO THE TTI COMMITTEE MEETING. 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE CHAMBER THIS AFTERNOON. SO ANYONE THAT'S STILL HERE, YOU JUST WANT TO STAY, GET SOME LUNCH , IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT AN ACTION PACKED AGENDA, MAYOR. UM, AND SO THAT DOES HAVE FIVE ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION. NOW, IT'S A PRESENTATION ON THE FEDERAL UPDATE WEBSITE, MAYOR, THAT'S FROM BILL KELLY IN YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS TO BILL AHEAD OF TIME. UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WITH THE MODELING ASSESSMENT AND AWARENESS PROJECT. THAT'S THE MAP. NEXT SOFTWARE. BEAUTIFUL AND REALLY INTERESTING TECHNOLOGY HELPING US PREDICT STORM SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE HOUSTON PERMITTING CENTER, SALLY, UH, WE'RE GONNA GET A PERMIT ACTIVITY REPORT FROM THE HPW AND, UH, THE PERMIT CENTER IS GONNA BE TALKED ABOUT. UH, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE AIRPORT SYSTEM, FLIGHT INFORMATION, DISPLAY SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FROM HAS. AND FINALLY, MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA GET A MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMART RESTROOM TECHNOLOGY. LITTLE COMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE AIRPORTS. AND WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO END UP THE YEAR IN THE BATHROOMS? , I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. ANYWAY, THAT'S TODAY. UM, AND MAYOR THIS AFTERNOON, I GUESS LATER TODAY, FIVE 30, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL EVENT. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE. IT'S THE PREVIEW OF THE DR. JAMES E. KEY AND MRS. BETTY W. KEY MAP ROOM IN THE JULIE IEN, UM, LIBRARY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. AND THIS IS SPECIAL COLLECTION OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND, UH, SOUTHERN BORDER MAPS FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME, FRANKLY. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO THAT YESTERDAY. SO PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THAT. I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SAVING WHATEVER DOLLARS I CAN FROM THE BALANCE OF MY TIME ON THE BUDGET, UH, TO PUT THAT ASIDE, MAYOR. SO, JUST A LITTLE PREVIEW. I THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING GOOD ON AN EXTREMELY LEAN, UH, STAFF AT THE, AT LARGE TWO OFFICE. THANKS TO MY TEAM LED BY OUR VERY CAPABLE CHIEF OF STAFF, DIANA KAIDO. UH, CHRISTINA CAMILLO IS, IS DOING GREAT. AND HER SUPPORT, THE, UH, UM, INCREDIBLE HOWER SISTERS, MY FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, KAREN ON A WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER BASIS, AND HER SISTER KIM HELPING US OUT. UM, I GUESS I'M GONNA TAKE ISSUE WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS. I THINK I'VE GOT THE BEST TEAM, BUT I KNOW WE ALL DO. TO YOUR POINT. THAT'S TRUE. WE ALL LOVE OUR FOLKS. AND MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY, NOT ONLY, UM, ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS COUNCIL THAT WE SERVE WITH, 'CAUSE IT'S INCREDIBLE. BUT YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO SOMEONE RIGHT THERE IN MARTHA CJO, WHO IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. AND SHE HAS SERVED FOR, SHE'S SERVED FOR A NUMBER OF MAYORS AND IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS IN THAT CHAIR, AND WE KNOW HOW VALUABLE SHE IS TO YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I'M LOOKING FOR OUR CITY SECRETARY, UM, MS. PAT JEFFERSON. DANIEL IS PROBABLY IN THE BACK, AND WE LOVE YOU TOO. UM, I'M GONNA BE SAD NOT TO HEAR HER READ THE AGENDA EVERY, UH, WEDNESDAY MORNING NEXT YEAR. SO I'M LEAVING THAT TO YOU LADIES WHO ARE USUALLY HERE WITH ME, OUR VICE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND MY CHAIR FROM THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. UH, SO WITH THAT MAYOR, I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY. WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA CALL OUT THE HTV STAFF TOO, 'CAUSE THEY DO SUCH A GREAT JOB. UM, SO WITH THAT, I, I WANNA THINK ABOUT ONE THING. 'CAUSE THIS LAST FOUR YEARS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD DID AN EXCELLENT JOB DESCRIBING, AND AS THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, MALE ON THE, ON THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE SERVED IN SUCH A FORTUNATE [05:55:01] TIME FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. OBVIOUSLY THE SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT. BUT IT IS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT WE'VE HAD A MAJORITY OF WOMEN. AND I THINK IN TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS CASES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS AND COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH, THEIR SEATS WILL CHANGE GENDER. A MAN IS COMING IN WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS HAS SAT AND A WOMAN IS COMING IN WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH WILL SAT. BUT WE WILL MAINTAIN A TEN SEVEN MAJORITY OF WOMEN ON COUNCIL. AND THAT IS JUST A GOOD THING FOR THIS CITY. AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED BY YOUR LEADERSHIP, MAYOR. WE'VE BEEN BLESSED BY A VERY WONDERFULLY STRONG, UM, AND FEMININE COUNCIL. AND, UH, AGAIN, I AM SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THAT. SO I THINK WITH THAT JOYOUS HAPPINESS TO ALL, MAYOR, IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE BIT OF SCRIPTURE THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN READING IN BIBLE CLASS, UH, RECENTLY. AND THIS DOES COME FROM THE, UH, THE BOOKS ASSEMBLED BY THE PROPHET WE REFER TO AS ISAIAH. AND IT'S THE FOURTH VERSE, AND IT MAKES ME THINK OF YOU 'CAUSE IT'S A, IT'S A SHORT PASSAGE THAT SAYS THEY SHALL BUILD UP THE ANCIENT RUINS. THEY SHALL RAISE UP THE FORMER DEVASTATIONS, THEY SHALL REPAIR THE RUINED CITIES, THE DEVASTATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS, MAYOR. AND YOU'RE LEAVING THIS CITY IN SUCH BETTER SHAPE. YOU'RE LEAVING IT FOR ASHLEY. YOU'RE LEAVING IT FOR ALYSSA. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS. THANK YOU. UM, I DON'T LIKE CHANGE . I'M MAKE THIS QUICK. I LIKE WHAT I LIKE. UM, BUT I RECALL WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST ONE-ON-ONE WHEN I WAS ELECTED. AND, UH, YOU APPOINTED ME TO THE HOUSING COMMITTEE. AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, WHAT DID I DO TO HIM? LIKE, WHY WOULD HE, WHAT IS GOING ON ? UM, BUT WHAT THAT WAS AN EAR. IT WAS AN EARLY SIGN, AN EARLY INDICATION THAT YOU TRUSTED THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD, AND YOU KNEW THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF CONTENT AND THE DETAIL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. SO I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES. UM, UM, I, I GO HARD FOR THAT HOUSING DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK WHAT YOUR VISION AROUND AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE HOUSED AND WILL BE HOUSED, GENERATIONS WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT. UM, BEYOND YOUR TENURE AT CITY HALL, WHAT THE SEEDS THAT YOU HAVE SOWN. SO THAT'S ONE. UM, I ALSO REMEMBER, UH, THE TIME DURING GEORGE FLOYD WHEN, UH, THE BLACK COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE US, UH, WRITING THEM LETTERS AND YOU WAS TIRED OF THEM LETTERS, . AND I REMEMBER HE SAID, IF I SEE ONE MORE LETTER FROM THEM, I MEAN, HE WAS UPSET. I WAS LIKE, Y'ALL, HE REALLY MAD, UH, THAT LETTER THAT HIT THE STREET, UH, BUT EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR OWN TUSSLES, RIGHT? AND, AND IT FORCED US TO BE REALLY DELIBERATE ABOUT WHAT WAS THE BEST FOR HOUSTON. UM, OUT OF THAT BIRTH, YOUR TASK FORCE REFORMS, COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT, MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS. AND AGAIN, GENERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, DEMONSTRATING FOR THE REST OF THE MAJOR CITIES ON HOW IT GETS DONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECALL APRIL, 2020, YOU CALLED ME TWO DAYS AND YOU SAID, LISTEN, I HAVE 2000 MASKS. CAN YOU FLIP 'EM? AND I SAID, WELL, I GUESS I CAN. AND ALL THE WAY ON THE WEST SIDE, WE HAD THE VERY FIRST, ONE OF THE FIRST MASS DISTRIBUTIONS, UH, DRIVES WHERE WE SERVED HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE IN LINE FOR HOURS. I REMEMBER THAT. UM, THAT WAS A PIVOTAL TIME. 'CAUSE AT FIRST IT WAS, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, OKAY, SO WE'RE REALLY ABOUT TO GET SOME ACTION ON THE WEST SIDE. I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ON MY OWN, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAD THE DISTRICT ON YOUR RADAR, UM, WHICH I DEEPLY APPRECIATE. UM, I JUST, I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR UNTIL JANUARY 1ST OR DECEMBER 31. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER. BUT I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE HOW LOVED YOU ARE IN THIS CITY. UM, AND I WANT YOU TO JUST REALLY SIT WITH THAT. PEOPLE CALL YOU OUR MAYOR FOR A REASON. YOU'RE OUR MAYOR. AND OVER THOSE SEVEN FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS, THE WAY THAT YOU'VE SHOWN UP PEOPLE IN THE STREETS THAT MAY NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOU ARE THERE. MAYOR, I HAVE OBSERVED WHEN YOU WOULD COME INTO COMMUNITY, HOW PEOPLE WOULD BE IN AWE THAT THEIR MAYOR WAS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, WALKING THEIR STREET. UM, YOU HAVE WALKED PINEY POINT WHEN NO OTHER MAYOR EVEN KNEW WHERE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WAS. AND YOU WALKED EACH STREET AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE WAITING OUTSIDE FOR YOU, STOPPING IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEIR MAYOR WAS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE THE THANK YOUS, BUT I WANT YOU TO SIT WITH THE LOVE, UH, THAT, UH, THE P UH, THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, UM, UH, [06:00:01] WILL OFFER YOU. AND WE'LL OFFER YOU LONG BEFORE, LONG AFTER YOUR TERM IS OVER. AND HOPEFULLY YOU REALLY GET TO FEEL THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE DEFINITELY LOVED AND YOUR AND YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE ON THIS CITY. UM, I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING IN THAT AND BEING ABLE TO WITNESS THAT. UM, AND BEING ABLE TO WATCH YOU LEAD IN THE MIDST OF, UH, PEOPLE CHALLENGING YOUR INTEGRITY. UH, PEOPLE, UM, ATTEMPTING TO DISCOLOR YOUR NAME. UM, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION YOU WOULD ALWAYS RISE. UM, AND I KNOW SOMETIMES I WOULD GET IN THAT MIC AND BE LIKE, DO IT. SAY IT, DO IT. 'CAUSE I LIKE TO LIKE A LITTLE TUSSLE. SO I'M, I'M GONNA MISS THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR HYPE MAN TO GAS UP. AND, UH, ANYTIME YOU'RE READY TO TUSSLE, WE'LL DO THAT TOO. BUT I, I WISH YOU WELL TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE LEAVING. IT HAS BEEN GREAT. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT YOU. UM, MY VICE CHAIR OF FOUR YEARS. UH, I'M GONNA MISS, UH, YOU KNOW, ROBERT GALLEGOS. I'M DEMANDING THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. , I MEAN THAT I, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU AND YOUR TEAM. UH, THERE'S PROBABLY A WHOLE CLIP OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBOSH AND I, UH, FIGHTING OVER HERE, UH, AND, AND, AND FLIPPING HIS VOTES WHEN HE TAGS, RIGHT? , UH, I, I WAS GOOD AT THAT. AND SO DEFINITELY GONNA MISS HIM. AND THEN MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER KNOX, UH, THE WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RALLY AROUND HIM AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS SON, UM, AS A, AS A, AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY, UH, I DEFINITELY WILL REMEMBER THAT. 'CAUSE THAT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE, PROBABLY THE, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST TRAUMATIC EVENTS AS A COUNCIL WE EXPERIENCED. SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY, UH, MOVE INTO THE NEXT SEASON OF THEIR LIFE. BUT, UH, JOB WELL DONE. UH, THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. AND, UM, I, I I I, I'M REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THE LOVE 'CAUSE THANK YOU. SOMETIMES CAN BE, UH, ROUTINE AND PEOPLE SAY THANK YOU CASUALLY, BUT, UH, LOVE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR TURNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MAYOR COEN, ALL BET. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I POSITIVELY LOVE THIS JOB. I LOVE THIS JOB BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS HORSESHOE WITH THE STAFF. EVERYBODY AT CITY HALL ANNEX, EVERYBODY IN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH. IT'S JUST A, AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE. UM, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, I'LL TALK TO YOU. DAVID ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TUTORING OF ME AND MENTORING OF ME. UM, SO YOU'VE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY AT AT TPC AND AT THE TTI COMMITTEE. AND YOU ARE SUCH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND HAVE SERVED YOUR CITY SO WELL. AND I, UM, I CONSIDER YOU A DEAR FRIEND. AND I'M REALLY GONNA BE SAD WITHOUT YOU SITTING HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS HAD IT RIGHT, MAN, YOUR PASSION AT THIS TABLE IS UNMATCHED. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY ALL IN FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND YOU ARE, ARE JUST A WONDERFUL SPOKESMAN FOR THE ISSUES IN FOR THAT THEY CARE ABOUT, THAT YOU CARE ABOUT. AND I WILL MISS YOUR FRIENDSHIP. I WILL MISS YOU STANDING AT THAT COFFEE, AT THAT WATER COOLER, EATING YOUR BREAKFAST EVERY WEDNESDAY. UM, REALLY, REALLY HAVE LOVED, UM, OUR FRIENDSHIP TOO. SINCE I'VE BEEN AT CITY COUNCIL, UH, YOU KNOW, AS A STAFFER LONGER, I'VE REALLY MADE SOME GREAT FRIENDSHIPS. OF COURSE, WE'LL MISS THE ONES THAT WON'T HEAR. BUT WE'VE ALL, UM, WE'RE ALL TALKING SO MUCH, MAYOR, OH MY GOSH, WHEN YOU SAID YOU, YOU'VE GAVE IT YOUR BEST, YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR BEST. I MEAN, IT'S SO OBVIOUS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR BEST. IT HAS BEEN A TRUE HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. YOU ARE A COMPLETE ROCKSTAR. IF ANYBODY'S BEEN ANYWHERE IN THIS TOWN WITH THIS, WITH THIS MAYOR, THERE IS A CROWD AROUND HIM LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. AND IT'S BECAUSE I THINK YOU LOVE THIS JOB. YOU POSITIVELY LOVE THIS JOB AND IT SHOWS AND YOU LOVE PEOPLE AND IT SHOWS. YOU CAME INTO OFFICE SAYING YOU DID NOT WANT THIS TO BE A CITY OF HAVES AND HAVE NOTS. AND YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND YOU PUT YOUR INITIATIVES TO IT. AND THEN COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE THAT'S CARRYING ON IS A GREAT LEGACY OF THAT. THANK YOU. THE PARKS, THE 50 50 PARK THING, YOUR TRANSFORM, TRANSFORMING NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE. SO EXCITED. I, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS, WHEN I GOT REGULATORY AND NEIGHBORHOOD AFFAIRS, I THOUGHT I'D DONE SOMETHING WRONG TOO. . BUT THANK YOU. THAT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT COMMITTEE. THIS IS A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SO GETTING INTO THEIR ISSUES, NOISE AND DOGS AND CATS AND TRUCKS IN THE, IN THE THING. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL, UM, IT'S, YOU SAW SOMETHING I DIDN'T, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I REALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIG IN AND GET SOME MEASURES PASSED IN THAT WITH YOUR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON SIDEWALKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THE, ON THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING OF THAT AND HOW YOU STARTED THIS MEETING, UM, WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE LONG TERM FISCAL HEALTH OF THIS CITY. I REALLY, I MEAN, YOU'LL GO DOWN FOREVER, IS GETTING THAT PENSION THING DONE. I MEAN, THAT WAS ALL ANYBODY TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS. AND THEN THE OPEP THE OTHER, I MEAN, THESE ARE NOT SEXY TOPICS, BUT YOU TOOK 'EM ON, YOU MADE SOME CHANGES, AND YOU'VE REALLY REDUCED OUR [06:05:01] LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OF CITY FACILITIES. ALL THESE THINGS ADD UP TO THAT FUND BALANCE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT NET POSITION. AND, UH, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY, UH, WISE STEWARDSHIP OF THE CITY'S, UH, FINANCES. SO WITH THAT, UM, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS IS STILL HERE. OH MY GOSH, HOW DID I MISS YOU? I WAS LOOKING FOR THOSE ABSENT MEN. THEY'RE NOT HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS, THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE JORDAN FRAZIER AS YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF. SHE IS NOT GONNA LET ANYTHING SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS. WHAT A JOY IT'S BEEN TO WORK WITH YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND ABOUT EDUCATION. AND THAT'S OFTEN, UH, NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DEAL WITH ON THE DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, BUT YOU'VE MADE US DEAL WITH IT. YOU'VE PUT IT AT THE FOREFRONT, AND IT IS TRULY THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. SO I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOUR FAMILY HERE TOO. THAT WAS, THAT WAS AWESOME. 'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THESE FAMILIES SERVE RIGHT ALONG WITH US. SO, UM, I, I LOVE THIS JOB. I'M REALLY THRILLED I GET TO DO IT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS. MAYOR, I WISH I WOULD'VE TAKEN SOME MORE DEBATE CLASSES. I I MAYBE COULD HAVE GOT YOU ON ONE ROAD. I NEVER DID. UM, BUT THANK, YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE AND AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, AN INCREDIBLE DEBATER. IT'S, IT'S HARD TO WIN A POINT AGAINST YOU. SO THANKS. THANKS, ALL. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN P THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING THAT I'M THE LAST COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK AT YOUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING SINCE YOU ARE A DISTRICT A CONSTITUENT. AND SINCE I'M YOUR FAVORITE COUNCIL MEMBER, , I DO, UM, I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE. UM, IN DISTRICT A EVEN BEFORE I BECAME A COUNCIL MEMBER, NEW ORLEANS ROAD. I MEAN, THAT WAS HUGE. UM, THAT FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT. UM, OTHER FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS, INWOOD FOREST, UM, STORMWATER DETENTION AND THE RECREATIONAL COMPONENT. I MEAN, THAT'S SUCH A HUGE GAME CHANGER IN THE ENTIRE INWOOD AREA AND AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, UM, FROM FLOODING AND BUSINESSES AS WELL. THE UPCOMING PROJECTS FOR CHATEAU FOREST, ALSO IN THE INWOOD AREA, UM, THAT IS SO NEEDED. AND THEN, UM, SHERWOOD OAKS AS WELL, THAT WILL BE UPCOMING SOON. UM, AND THEN COUNTLESS STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. YOUR, UM, STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM WHERE YOU'VE ALLOCATED, UM, LANE MILES TO EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT HAS JUST MADE IT SO THAT DISTRICT A HAS HAD SO MANY STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT EVEN IN THE QUEUE BEFORE. UM, AND OF COURSE THE BIGGEST, UM, PROJECTS OF STREET RECONSTRUCTION FOR ANTOINE AND TANNER ROAD THAT ARE UPCOMING. UM, AND THEN THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION AND REVITALIZATION OF AARON LADAY PARK AND LINGWOOD PARK, UM, THE NEW PLAYGROUND, PLAYGROUND AT RL AND CORA JOHNSON PARK AND THE, UM, LIBRARY LOCKER AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. I MEAN, THAT HAS REALLY BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR SO MANY COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN WANTING THEIR PARK TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS. AND PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. THEY'RE USING THE PARK. IT'S BECOME JUST SOMETHING REALLY A, A GREAT AMENITY IN ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. UM, THE REHAB OF FIRE STATION 38 AND THE AGREEMENT TO FUND THE NEW NORTHWEST POLICE STATION. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THAT . AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOUR TIME AS MAYOR, THESE ARE REALLY THE THINGS THAT I'M ALWAYS GOING TO REMEMBER AND THINK ABOUT. AND WHAT I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT IS THAT YOU STILL HAVE 12 MORE DAYS LEFT AS MAYOR. AND DISTRICT A HAS MORE PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN FIND IN THESE LITTLE DAYS. , I HAD TO SAY, UH, . BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR TIME AS MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND TO ALL THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TOO, AND JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH. AND, UH, I DO WANT TO THANK MARTY'S BEEN RIGHT BY MY SIDE FOR, FOR 80 YEARS, SO, UM, VERY DE VERY DETAILED, VERY METICULOUS. SO THANK YOU MY FRIEND OVER THERE, DANA. SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH, PAT. THANK YOU. UM, BUR FIRST IT WAS ANNA, ANNA, UM, RUSSELL, AND, AND THEN YOU STEPPED RIGHT IN. SO THANK YOU. AND, UM, AND THEN ARTURO OVER THERE WITH CITY LEGAL. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH, UM, MARBLE THAT IT'S BEEN, UH, RIGHT THERE AS CHIEF OF STAFF, UM, FOR AT LEAST SEVEN OF THOSE EIGHT YEARS. SO THANK YOU ALL. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT EVERYTHING, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, UH, AS, UH, AS I GET READY TO GOL OUT, UM, I DO WISH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION ALL THE BEST, UM, JOHN MEYER WILL BE SITTING IN THIS CHAIR, COME JANUARY, SECOND. SECOND. UM, AND THEN THE NEW MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANNA SEE, YOU WANNA SEE THE CITY CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD MM-HMM . SO YOU WANNA WISH AND, UH, THEM MUCH, MUCH SUCCESS, UM, UH, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO WELL, CITY DOES WELL, AND IF THE CITY DOES WELL, WE ALL BENEFIT. AND, UM, [06:10:01] SO I WANT TO EXTEND MY VERY BEST, UH, TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMING IN IN JANUARY. BUT, UM, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE CITY, AND THIS HAS BEEN AND IS. SO I WALK, TAKE, GO AWAY WITH A LOT OF, A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES AND, UM, I MEAN, AND A LOT OF MEMORIES. A LOT OF MEMORIES. OKAY. SO HAVING SAID THAT, AND UM, AND THEN LET ME, LET ME, LET ME ALSO SAY TO THE MEDIA, TO THE MEDIA AS WELL, PRESS. I KNOW THEY LOVE ME. THEY DO. I I KNOW THEY DO. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TOLD TO DO SOME OF THOSE STORIES, BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO, YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW THEY LOVE, BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER. AND WHAT I CAN SAY, WHEN YOU'RE FACING THE TAX DAY FLOOD AND HURRICANE HARVEY, TROPICAL, STORMY, MELBOURNE, AND COVID, UM, THE MEDIA WAS A VITAL PART OF THAT TEAM TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT. UM, THAT I DO KNOW THAT I DO KNOW, BECAUSE WE WERE IN FRONT HAVING PRESS CONFERENCES, SOMETIMES TWO AND THREE TIMES A DAY. SO EVEN THOUGH YOU, YOU GO THROUGH THEM TUGS, SO TO SPEAK, IT DOES CRE IT DOES TAKE ALL OF US IN THIS CITY TO MAKE, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. SO, UM, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY TO TODAY. UH, AS I HIT THIS G FOR THE LAST TIME, YOU KNOW, WE SHALL STAND ADJOURN FOR 2023, BUT I'LL HIT IT KNOWING AND HOPING AND PRAYING THAT 2024 WE'LL BE BETTER THAN 2023. YOU STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.